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Winter Driving and Car
Tips
Get
your car services now
No one wants to break
down in any season, but especially not in cold
or snowy winter
weather. Start the season off right by ensuring
your vehicle is in optimal condition.
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·
Visit your mechanic for a tune-up or other
routine maintenance.
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·
Have your entire vehicle checked thoroughly
for any leaks, bad hoses, or other
-
needed part repairs or replacements.
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·
If
you plan to use snow tires, have them
installed now. Check out
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www.safercar.gov
for tire ratings before purchasing new ones.
For existing tires,
-
check to ensure they're properly inflated
(as recommended by your vehicle
-
manufacturer), the tread is sufficient with
no uneven wear, and that the rubber is in
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overall good condition. Note that tire
rubber starts to
-
degrade after several years, and tires need
to be replaced even if they have not
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seen much wear.
Check
your battery
When the
temperature drops, so does battery power. Plus,
it takes more power to start
your
vehicle in cold weather than in warm. Find out
if your battery is up to the challenges
of winter:
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·
Have your mechanic check your battery for
sufficient voltage.
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·
Have the charging system and belts
inspected.
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·
If
necessary, replace the battery and/or make
system repairs.
Check
your cooling system
When
coolant freezes it expands. Such expansion can
potentially damage your vehicle's
engine block beyond repair. Don't let this
happen to your vehicle this winter!
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·
Make sure you have enough coolant in your
vehicle and that it's designed to
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withstand the winter temperatures you might
experience in your area.
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·
A
50/50 mix of coolant to water is sufficient
for most regions of the country. See
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your vehicle owner's manual for specific
recommendations.
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·
Thoroughly check the cooling system for
leaks or have your mechanic do it for you.
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·
If
your system hasn't been “flushed” (draining
the system and replacing the coolant)
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for several years, have it done now. Over
time, rust inhibitors in anti-freeze break
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down and become ineffective. Coolant also
needs to be refreshed periodically to
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remove dirt and rust particles that can clog
the cooling system and cause it to fail.
Fill
you washer reservoir
You can go through a lot of windshield wiper
fluid fairly quickly in a single snowstorm,
so be
prepared for whatever Mother Nature might send
your way.
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·
Completely fill your vehicle's reservoir
before the first snow hits.
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·
Use high-quality, “no-freeze” fluid.
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·
Buy extra to keep on hand in your vehicle.
Check
you windshield wipers & defrosters
Safe winter driving depends on achieving and
maintaining the best visibility possible.
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·
Make sure your windshield wipers work and
replace worn blades.
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·
If
you live in an area that gets a lot of snow
and ice, consider installing heavy-duty
-
winter wipers.
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·
Check to see that your window defrosters
(front and rear) work properly.
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