Understanding Maintenance

Winterize Your Car

 

What needs to be done in order to get your vehicle ready for  winter

 

          1. Check antifreeze mixture

2. Change the engine oil and adjust the viscosity grade

3. Inspect the belts and hoses

4. Inspect the wipers and wiper fluid

5. The battery

6. Tires

7. Ignition System

 

1. Antifreeze Mixture

The ideal mixture of antifreeze (coolant) and water inside your vehicle's radiator is 50:50. If the mixture deviates from this norm, then hot- and cold-weather performance can be compromised.

If you were to put pure water in your vehicle's radiator, it would freeze at 32 degrees Fahrenheit. If you combine the water with an equal amount of antifreeze, the new mixture won't freeze until -34 degrees Fahrenheit !

Have the composition of your radiator's mixture tested. If the mixture is off, have the coolant replaced with the correct ratio of water to antifreeze..

2. Change the engine oil and adjust the viscosity grade

Engine oil is replaced at required intervals through out the year. It is important that the correct grade of engine oil according to the manufactures specification is used for the winter months. Engine oil's ability to lubricate changes with changes in temperature.

3. Inspect the belts and hoses

Cold temperatures can accelerate the demise of a belt or hose. Before winter starts, have the belts and hoses inspected on your vehicle.

4. Inspect the wipers and wiper fluid

Visibility is particularly key in winter, as it is often compromised by precipitation, salt buildup on the windshield and reduced daylight. The life expectancy of a wiper blade is one year. If your car's blades are older, replace them.

Also check and fill your wiper fluid reservoir. A harsh winter storm is the worst possible time to run out of wiper fluid or to discover your blades aren't performing properly.

5. The battery

Very cold temperatures can reduce a vehicle's battery power by up to 50 percent. If your vehicle battery is older than three years, have it tested at a certified automotive repair facility. Also, make sure the posts and connections are free of corrosion.

6. Tires

Tire pressure is especially important during the winter. Traction is often at a minimum due to wet or snowy conditions. It is critical to have properly inflated tires, as this guarantees the best possible contact between the tire and the road.

Because of wintertime lower temperatures, the air pressure in a cold tire will drop. Why? Because air is a gas, and gas contracts when it cools. Keep this in mind if you are checking tire pressures. Generally, for every 10-degree Fahrenheit change in ambient temperature, your tire's inflation pressure will change by about 1 psi (up with higher temperatures and down with lower temperatures). Have your Tires inspected.

7. Ignition System

Cold temperatures  increase the demands of the ignitions system. Colder air requires more energy to fire the spark plugs. Weak ignition systems usually cause a flooded engine or kill the battery from extended cranking  periods. Have your Tune up checked before the winter.

 

When should you have your vehicle checked for winter?