Until moving to Florida, I spent the last dozen years or so in northern Utah, where the temperature begins to drop in October and doesn't rise again until sometime after April. Because of the shorter days, for much of the winter months I would leave for work before the sun came up and not come home until it had set. As a result, the bulk of my drive time was accomplished in the dark and with temperatures hanging well below freezing. It goes without saying that these were not ideal conditions for having car trouble. This was particularly true for my wife, who more often than not was out hauling some or all of my offspring around on various errands. It was with this in mind that I took the following steps to ensure that our cars were in top shape to serve us through the winter season.
You can probably abbreviate this list somewhat if you live in one of the Sunbelt states, but any prevention is better than none, and you never know when Mother Nature is going to throw a curve ball your way.
1. Change the Oil.
Change the engine oil and make sure to put in the appropriate type. Like most liquids, oil thickens as the temps drop. When you go out and fire up your car in the morning, your oil is sitting in the bottom of the oil pan, thick as honey. This condition worsens the dirtier the oil is, and your engine has to work harder to circulate it until everything warms up properly. Switching to a thinner viscosity oil (see your owner's manual or ask) improves things considerably. Additionally, it's always a good idea to start off the winter driving season with a clean oil filter and good clean oil, because you're sure not going to be motivated to go out into a freezing garage to change it mid-season.
2. Check Hoses and Belts.
The car enthusiast will know how old a vehicle's belts and hoses are and whether or not a replacement is due, but most of you probably won't. Freezing conditions exacerbate any problems your car may be hiding in milder climates, and items like belts and hoses have a way of choosing the absolute worst time to fail. Feel along the length of your engine's belts for any cracks, splits, or frayed edges. If you find any, replace them. Feel the various hoses for the same issues, and replace as necessary. Don't forget to check your windshield washer fluid hoses as well.
3. Check that the Wipers are in Good Shape.
In Utah we'd go for months at a time in the summer without using the wipers, and once I found out too late that one of my wipers wasn't working, during the season's first snow storm. Don't make this mistake! Check that both the front and the rear wipers are working properly. If the blades have been on your car longer than a few months, replace them. It's a cheap and fast way to ensure good visibility for you and the family. Check that the washer fluid system works properly and is topped off. It's a great idea to keep some of that fluid in the trunk of your car as well. I shouldn't have to emphasize that visibility is of primary importance when operating a vehicle!
4. Check the Battery.
The number one type of car failure in the winter is a dead battery. Cold temperatures cut a battery's cranking power in half, even more so if the battery is getting old. These days batteries are essentially maintenance free and usually require replacement every five to seven years. As such, it's easy to forget all about them until they quit working. Don't give your battery a chance to strand you in the middle of a snowstorm! Check the battery posts and wires for corrosion, and clean them as needed (try pouring Coke, or a mixture of baking soda and water on corroded posts). If your battery is more than a couple years old, yank it out and have it tested at the local auto parts store. They'll do it for free. Oh, and make sure you've got some jumper cables in the trunk. With your battery in such fine shape now, you're probably gonna want to help out your neighbor who forgot to winterize his car.
5. Check the Tire Pressure.
This one is pretty simple, and the reality is that your tires won't go completely flat because of cold temperatures. The tire pressure will drop considerably, however, and this will affect the way your car handles, as well as put a dent in your mileage. You should be checking your tire pressure at least monthly anyway (slacker), but be sure to check it AFTER the temperatures have dropped. If the pressure is below the recommended amount (check the sidewall for recommended psi), add some air.
6. Put some Emergency Essentials in your car.
Have you seen just how nutty the weather has been these last few years? You never know when you're going to find yourself in the middle of a full blown weather butt-kicking, and you'll thank yourself later that you had the foresight to stow a few items ahead of time. This is an important step, particularly if you live in the Snowbelt states and even more particularly if you have children in the car. Put these things in your car now, please:
A) flashlight with good batteries
B) Jumper cables
C) ice scraper and some gloves
D) bag of rock salt, sand, gravel, landscaping bark, or kitty litter, for traction if you get stuck
E) Blanket or extra jacket
F) Washer fluid
It's also a great idea to keep your cell phone and a charger handy as well. Don't take your car for granted, and don't leave your family's safety to chance. Spend an hour or two with your car and then rest easy throughout those long winter months. Happy driving!
Chad Hervig Hervighaus Motorsports Advancing the cause of car guys everywhere http://hervighaus.blogspot.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chad_Hervig
You can probably abbreviate this list somewhat if you live in one of the Sunbelt states, but any prevention is better than none, and you never know when Mother Nature is going to throw a curve ball your way.
1. Change the Oil.
Change the engine oil and make sure to put in the appropriate type. Like most liquids, oil thickens as the temps drop. When you go out and fire up your car in the morning, your oil is sitting in the bottom of the oil pan, thick as honey. This condition worsens the dirtier the oil is, and your engine has to work harder to circulate it until everything warms up properly. Switching to a thinner viscosity oil (see your owner's manual or ask) improves things considerably. Additionally, it's always a good idea to start off the winter driving season with a clean oil filter and good clean oil, because you're sure not going to be motivated to go out into a freezing garage to change it mid-season.
2. Check Hoses and Belts.
The car enthusiast will know how old a vehicle's belts and hoses are and whether or not a replacement is due, but most of you probably won't. Freezing conditions exacerbate any problems your car may be hiding in milder climates, and items like belts and hoses have a way of choosing the absolute worst time to fail. Feel along the length of your engine's belts for any cracks, splits, or frayed edges. If you find any, replace them. Feel the various hoses for the same issues, and replace as necessary. Don't forget to check your windshield washer fluid hoses as well.
3. Check that the Wipers are in Good Shape.
In Utah we'd go for months at a time in the summer without using the wipers, and once I found out too late that one of my wipers wasn't working, during the season's first snow storm. Don't make this mistake! Check that both the front and the rear wipers are working properly. If the blades have been on your car longer than a few months, replace them. It's a cheap and fast way to ensure good visibility for you and the family. Check that the washer fluid system works properly and is topped off. It's a great idea to keep some of that fluid in the trunk of your car as well. I shouldn't have to emphasize that visibility is of primary importance when operating a vehicle!
4. Check the Battery.
The number one type of car failure in the winter is a dead battery. Cold temperatures cut a battery's cranking power in half, even more so if the battery is getting old. These days batteries are essentially maintenance free and usually require replacement every five to seven years. As such, it's easy to forget all about them until they quit working. Don't give your battery a chance to strand you in the middle of a snowstorm! Check the battery posts and wires for corrosion, and clean them as needed (try pouring Coke, or a mixture of baking soda and water on corroded posts). If your battery is more than a couple years old, yank it out and have it tested at the local auto parts store. They'll do it for free. Oh, and make sure you've got some jumper cables in the trunk. With your battery in such fine shape now, you're probably gonna want to help out your neighbor who forgot to winterize his car.
5. Check the Tire Pressure.
This one is pretty simple, and the reality is that your tires won't go completely flat because of cold temperatures. The tire pressure will drop considerably, however, and this will affect the way your car handles, as well as put a dent in your mileage. You should be checking your tire pressure at least monthly anyway (slacker), but be sure to check it AFTER the temperatures have dropped. If the pressure is below the recommended amount (check the sidewall for recommended psi), add some air.
6. Put some Emergency Essentials in your car.
Have you seen just how nutty the weather has been these last few years? You never know when you're going to find yourself in the middle of a full blown weather butt-kicking, and you'll thank yourself later that you had the foresight to stow a few items ahead of time. This is an important step, particularly if you live in the Snowbelt states and even more particularly if you have children in the car. Put these things in your car now, please:
A) flashlight with good batteries
B) Jumper cables
C) ice scraper and some gloves
D) bag of rock salt, sand, gravel, landscaping bark, or kitty litter, for traction if you get stuck
E) Blanket or extra jacket
F) Washer fluid
It's also a great idea to keep your cell phone and a charger handy as well. Don't take your car for granted, and don't leave your family's safety to chance. Spend an hour or two with your car and then rest easy throughout those long winter months. Happy driving!
Chad Hervig Hervighaus Motorsports Advancing the cause of car guys everywhere http://hervighaus.blogspot.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chad_Hervig
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