Good Car Care - It's Essential During The Winter

| Tuesday, March 13, 2012
By Jim Timothys


Generally, people excitedly anticipate getting a driver's license and purchasing their first car after spending years being driven around as passengers in other people's vehicles. Most of these individuals never learn how to take care of a car other than taking it to a mechanic when something goes wrong. Some men take auto class in school, so they know what should be done, but they are the minority. Though some men might study car care in school, this is not usually the case. Performing some basic maintenance on your vehicle will keep it on the road for an expanded period of time. It can be a big problem if your location has harsh winters as a these can wreak havoc on your cars.

It truly is important to keep your tires adequately inflated any time, but even more so when the temperature drops. In addition to helping you sidestep flat tires, you'll get much better gas mileage when your tires are properly inflated. It is such an simple thing to look at the tires and fill them up any time they are low. An additional very easy action to take is keep the fuel tank more than a quarter of a tank. This should be a top priority during the winter months because vehicles, older ones in particular, run the risk of a fuel line freezing. For newer vehicles, this is not a big concern, but who would like be stranded with an empty gas tank in subzero temperatures?

Before the weather condition turns cold, you want to make sure the cooling system of your vehicle is in good shape. The coolant should be flushed each year and changed out to keep your car running at optimum efficiency. The main reason for engine associated breakdowns is malfunction with the cooling system, and the repairs could cost thousands. Employing a 50 /50 combination of antifreeze and water is ideal and using an antifreeze ball tester can help. This way you can be checking frequently to see if the quantities are remaining constant, so you can add some antifreeze whenever it is needed. You must also use a windshield washer fluid made specifically for the winter months as your windshield can get filthy driving in the winter weather.

Examine the battery, particularly if it's older, and find out if it can last during the winter. Keep the terminal posts free of corrosion, in order for the car will start easier. A battery's life expectancy can be significantly less in locations with very harsh winters. It's not a terrible idea to have a pair of jumper cables readily available in the event your battery dies. Complete your oil changes at the appropriate times and use the appropriate weight of oil. Change out the wiper blades as soon as they need it.

Whenever road conditions are snowy, you need tires that provide adequate grip, ie. snow tires, and these should be installed prior to the snowstorm. It is vital to make plans for cold weather so fill your car with supplies such as blankets, extra food, and a shovel.




About the Author:



0 comments:

Post a Comment