It may be mid-winter, but it is never too late to make sure you have taken good care of your ride. After all, this is the season which is toughest on your set of wheels, and most crucial that you get where you are going with no problems. Here are a few maintenance tips:
1) Check your battery. If the battery is over five years old, looks swollen, or cracked, it may be time for a replacement. Many batteries will have the date of sale on them with a sticker. Batteries with a maintenance window make this check easiest, check the “eye” for the proper color—usually green. If the battery does not say it is maintenance-free, it may need to have distilled water added to it. For around $50 for a new one, there is no better insurance that your car will start every time than a battery in good condition.
2) Check your tire pressure and condition. Located inside the driver’s door or glove box door is a plate which will give you the appropriate tire pressures to run on your vehicle. Tires low on air pressure wear rapidly, poorly, make the car handle unsafely, and even kill your gas mileage. A good tire gauge is something every car owner should own, and at less than $5, there is no excuse. And don’t forget to check up on that spare; you never know when you are going to need it!
3) Fill your windshield washer fluid. Simple enough; just make sure you don’t water it down. At about a dollar a gallon, it is well worth having on a salty road.
4) Get new wiper blades. A simple task, which can try the patience of many. Most of the time you forget about them, but after a winter of scraping across ice it may be time for their replacement. Streaking, chattering, or dried blades can be replaced for most vehicles inexpensively.
5) Check your headlights and taillights. It takes two seconds, and makes all the difference in you being able to see where you are going, and people being able to see you.
6) Get your oil changed. During winter, it is crucial for a number of cars that you change the grade of oil you are using to one which is less viscous at low temperatures. Switching to a lower number will improve the lubrication at startup and decrease wear on the engine. Check your owner’s manual for recommendations on oil type and viscosity. At less than $15 at Walmart for an oil change, preserving the life of your engine seems well worth the investment.
7) Check your coolant. Checking the condition of your coolant, as well as the level in the reservoir is another quick, painless way to ensure that your car will perform flawlessly this winter. A safe bet is to add 100 percent coolant to the reservoir if it is a little low. Make sure to check your owner’s manual for the appropriate type—they are not mixable—and remember: Never open a hot radiator!
8) Get the car washed. The salt spray from the roads speeds up the oxidation of the metals on your car, including all of the structural and exterior sheet metal. When it is going to be nice for a few days, treat your car to a good bath. Brushless car washes for $5 to $8 offer fewer scratches. Another option includes the coin operated pressure washer at Hoffman’s for $2.
9) Carry around a little extra gas. It’s never a bad idea to have at least a half of tank of gas in bad weather. In addition, carrying around a blanket, snowbrush/ice scraper, a flashlight, flares, the fully operational factory jack and accessories, a small tool kit, some vital fluids for your car, and your trusty tire gauge will ensure that your car continues to run, or if it doesn’t you will be able to do minor maintenance on the side of the road.
This whole check should take you less than an hour or two, and ensure that your car will keep on serving you while the cold weather remains. This article is not all-inclusive, and a professional mechanic should handle any serious repair.
