Winter maintenance

Best way to get through winter is prevention

When the weather outside is frightful, a little advance preparation will make your winter driving delightful, says the Car Care Council.

Just a few preventive vehicle maintenance steps will help you get going in the mornings and help you avoid being stranded in severe winter weather.

“The thought of a breakdown, an engine not starting or otherwise being stranded is scary as it is, but those things happening in freezing winter weather adds another level of fear,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “An investment of an hour or so to have your vehicle checked will pay off and help make sure your winter driving is less frightful and more delightful.”

The Car Care Council recommends motorists take the following steps toward winterizing a vehicle:

• Check the battery and charging system for optimum performance. Cold weather is hard on batteries.
• Clean, flush and put new antifreeze in the cooling system. As a general rule of thumb, this should be done every two years.
• Make sure heaters, defrosters and wipers work properly. Consider winter wiper blades and use cold weather washer fluid. Typically, wiper blades should be replaced every six months.
• It’s never too late for a tune-up. Winter magnifies existing problems such as pings, hard starts, sluggish performance or rough idling.
• Check the tire tread depth and tire pressure. If snow or ice (or both) are problems in your area, choose the appropriate winter tires. During winter, tire pressure should be checked weekly, and don’t forget the spare.
• Check the brakes. The braking system is the vehicle’s most important safety component.
• Inspect the exhaust system for carbon monoxide leaks, which can be especially dangerous during cold weather driving when windows are closed.
• Check to see that exterior and interior lights work and headlights are properly aimed.
• Be diligent about changing the oil at recommended intervals as dirty oil can spell trouble in winter. Consider changing to “winter weight” oil if you live in extremely cold climate. Check the fuel, air and transmission filters at the same time.

Motorists should also keep the gas tank as full as possible to decrease the chances of moisture forming in the gas lines and possibly freezing. Drivers should stock an emergency kit with an ice scraper and snowbrush, jumper cables, flashlight, flares, blanket, extra clothes, candles/matches, bottled water, dry food snacks and needed medication.

Tags: maintenance, winter