Winterizing Your Car
The last thing you want is for your car to breakdown in the middle of nowhere in the freezing cold, which quickly turns into a dangerous situation for your personal safety.
A few preventative steps on your part can avoid any undue hassle, as well as save you money, as it's very expensive to fix cars once they break down.
Get Your Emissions Checked You can have emissions experts check the quality of your car in that area.
What a car emits is a sign of its overall condition.
The auto repair shop has a standard set of procedures.
As technology has improved over the years, it hasn't been as critical as it was decades ago to constantly have your car inspected, however, there are still several things of which to be aware.
Stick to a Winter Checklist Cold weather is particularly tough on the car's battery.
During cold temperatures, the chemical reactions needed to generate a car battery power slow down considerably, and your engine requires more current from the batter to get going.
Therefore, if you combine less power output with more power needed, you may find yourself with a car that will not start in the dead of winter.
Have your mechanic run a battery test and fill it up with distilled water if necessary.
It's also cautionary to check on the state of your wiper blades and to refill the wiper fluid as appropriate.
Since it is necessary to be able to see where you are going, don't allow the buildup of cold precipitation and salt to block your visibility.
Replace the wiper blades if they appear worn out.
You can also consider using special blades designed specifically for winter.
As the weather gets cold and slippery, tires need to be inspected for sufficient tread.
When snow turns into ice on the road, conditions make driving risky, so ensure your tires can gain enough traction.
Check inflation of the tires too, as the cold weather causes tire pressure to drop.
Checking the anti-freeze mixture is also a must.
If you have four-wheel drive, have the mechanic check to see that everything is working correctly and that your car is properly powered to handle the more difficult road conditions.
Prepare an Emergency Kit In the event that you have your car checked, yet still find yourself in an unexpected situation, be prepared.
Keep a spare tire in your trunk, as well as the necessary tools to change it.
You should also have a set of jumper cables, and just to be safe, a first aid kit with flares and a flashlight.
And since it is colder outside, keeping a blanket and extra set of warm clothes, boots and gloves is advised.
A small shovel or ice scraper also comes in handy.
Taking the necessary steps to winterize your car with a tune up from a professional, as well as preparing for the worst will help you avoid disaster this winter season.
A few preventative steps on your part can avoid any undue hassle, as well as save you money, as it's very expensive to fix cars once they break down.
Get Your Emissions Checked You can have emissions experts check the quality of your car in that area.
What a car emits is a sign of its overall condition.
The auto repair shop has a standard set of procedures.
As technology has improved over the years, it hasn't been as critical as it was decades ago to constantly have your car inspected, however, there are still several things of which to be aware.
Stick to a Winter Checklist Cold weather is particularly tough on the car's battery.
During cold temperatures, the chemical reactions needed to generate a car battery power slow down considerably, and your engine requires more current from the batter to get going.
Therefore, if you combine less power output with more power needed, you may find yourself with a car that will not start in the dead of winter.
Have your mechanic run a battery test and fill it up with distilled water if necessary.
It's also cautionary to check on the state of your wiper blades and to refill the wiper fluid as appropriate.
Since it is necessary to be able to see where you are going, don't allow the buildup of cold precipitation and salt to block your visibility.
Replace the wiper blades if they appear worn out.
You can also consider using special blades designed specifically for winter.
As the weather gets cold and slippery, tires need to be inspected for sufficient tread.
When snow turns into ice on the road, conditions make driving risky, so ensure your tires can gain enough traction.
Check inflation of the tires too, as the cold weather causes tire pressure to drop.
Checking the anti-freeze mixture is also a must.
If you have four-wheel drive, have the mechanic check to see that everything is working correctly and that your car is properly powered to handle the more difficult road conditions.
Prepare an Emergency Kit In the event that you have your car checked, yet still find yourself in an unexpected situation, be prepared.
Keep a spare tire in your trunk, as well as the necessary tools to change it.
You should also have a set of jumper cables, and just to be safe, a first aid kit with flares and a flashlight.
And since it is colder outside, keeping a blanket and extra set of warm clothes, boots and gloves is advised.
A small shovel or ice scraper also comes in handy.
Taking the necessary steps to winterize your car with a tune up from a professional, as well as preparing for the worst will help you avoid disaster this winter season.