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WASHER FLUID

How to Get Your Car Ready for Winter

November 27, 2015 by admin 1 Comment

The first very cold weather of the season has arrived and that means winter will soon settle in. Seasonal extremes can take its toll on your car, but if you’re prepared you can avoid the worst that it has to offer. To that end, we’ll take a look at some steps you can take to help get your car ready for winter.

winter plow
Winter is coming. Are you ready?

1. Review your owner’s manual. The first thing you should do is pull out the owner’s manual from your glove box and reacquaint yourself with it. Go to the section for the maintenance schedule and choose the one that mirrors your driving habits. While most people follow the standard level of care, if you drive in the city, take to dusty roads or put a lot of miles on your car each year, then choose the “severe service” schedule. In any case, get those open items done before winter makes its home.

2. Change your oil and oil filter. Chances are your engine oil is due for a change. Today’s cars can usually go upwards of 7,500 miles between changes, but consult the owner’s manual for change interval information. When changing your oil for the winter season, go with 5W30 oil as it is ideal for winter use.

3. Replace your wiper blades and check your washer fluid. Your wiper blades may last as long as a year, but if your summer was particularly hot, they can become brittle and crack. Always change the blades if you notice streaking. Doing this job before winter settles in and again before next summer is a sensible approach. While you are at it, replenish the washer fluid. Choose a solution that has a greater concentration of alcohol to ensure that the line does not freeze during the winter.

4. Check your heating system. Just because the air conditioning was working so well during the summer doesn’t mean that the heating system will perform faithfully in the winter. Take your car on the road, turn the heat on high and determine if it is sufficiently warming the cabin and defrosting the windows. If it isn’t, then you may need to get it serviced. At the very least pop the hood and verify that the hoses are in good condition.

5. Examine the cooling system. If your coolant hasn’t been flushed in a few years, get this job done before winter arrives. Your coolant should be either yellow, blue or green. If it has lost its color, appears rusty or if you notice detritus floating in the fluid, then have it flushed. Verify that the hoses are in good condition and that the clamps are secure too.

6. Consider your tires. If you live in a place where snow is not common, your current tires should be sufficient. Still, you need to examine them to ensure that there is enough tread remaining. Also check your spare tire to determine its condition — you don’t want to have a flat tire on hand when you need a working spare. In places where snow is common, replacing your “all season” tires with snow tires makes sense. In fact, it may be required where you live or at least chains may need to be added. It is always best to put winter (snow) tires on all four wheels.

7. Probe the battery. If your car’s battery dies this winter, you’re not going anywhere. Most car batteries last three years with some models hanging around for five years. No matter, check the connections to ensure that they’re clean and attached. If your battery is pushing its life limit, then replace it. Winter will only cause it to work harder — you might as well invest in a new one. By the way, ensure that your jumper cables are stashed away in your car whether you choose to buy a new car battery or not.

8. Inspect your brakes. Are your brakes ready for winter? New brakes pads and calipers may be in order. If you hear grinding when you apply the brakes, that is a sure sign that brake work is needed. Get this work done before you’re dealing with black ice, snow and frosty road conditions.

Here Comes Winter

What else can you do to prepare for the next winter wallop? If you travel a lot and are prone to head out to remote places, then an emergency kit is a smart idea. Include the usual emergency supplies, but also bring blankets, boots, winter clothing, food, and water. A fully charged cell phone and charger are essentials too, but neither will do you much good if you are out of cell phone range.

Finally, ensure that all lights are working, that you have extra fuses on hand, bring with you duct tape, spare hoses and belts, and inform someone not traveling with you of your route and of your plans. With your car in great shape and you taking the necessary driving precautions, you can handle everything that the season throws your way.

Filed Under: Car Tips Tagged With: BRAKE SYSTEM, car battery, car care, car tips, COOLING SYSTEM, HEATING SYSTEM, OIL CHANGE, snow tires, WASHER FLUID, WINTER, winter tires, wiper blades

What You Need to Know About Winter Driving

January 26, 2013 by admin 2 Comments

Just as parts of the Northern Hemisphere enters a deep freeze, our friends in the Southern Hemisphere are enduring record heat. The earth may be a little blue marble, but weather conditions can vary widely and have a huge impact on your car.

winter driving
Fresh wiper blades are essential for safe winter driving.

Driving Tips

If you are planning to take an extended trip this season, the following winter driving tips are worth reviewing.

1. Examine your antifreeze. When was the last time you checked your antifreeze? It may not need to be flushed, but it may need to be topped off. Check for leaks too you do not want to get stranded because your radiator was not up to the task.

2. Check your tires. It is always good practice to outfit your car with snow tires when driving on icy, slippery roads. You may have been lulled into believing that all-season tires are sufficient to get the job done, but you simply cannot get the same benefit from tread design and compounds used with snow tires. And, yes, for maximum traction place snow tires on all four corners, not just two.

3. Look at your brake system. An anti-lock brake system can help your car stop, but it is no substitute for worn brake pads and caliper problems. While you are underneath your car, check that the exhaust system is functioning properly too.

4. Top off the windshield washer reservoir. Head out on the road when the snow is melting and you will hit a barrage of slush that will splash up onto your windshield. You will need to start your trip with a full windshield washer reservoir with an antifreeze agent. Replace your wiper blades too if they have not been swapped out in at least six months. Bring an extra container of fluid with you.

5. Bring along emergency supplies. The possibility that you might get stranded looms as you hit the road under unfavorable weather conditions. Ideally, you will wait out a storm, but if you must travel, bring the following items with you: a snow shovel, brush, jumper cables, kitty litter or sand for traction, a spare cell phone battery, flares, blankets, water, food, a mirror to signal for help, and ample clothing. Let someone know of your intended route, giving them instructions to call for help if you do not arrive at your destination at the prescribed time.

6. Practice safe winter driving. You are quite the maverick on the road, are you not? With winter driving, you will quickly discover that you do not always have as much control over your vehicle as you would when road conditions are dry. And neither do other drivers. Ease up on the gas pedal, gently apply the brakes and allow for more room between yourself and other cars. When roads are slick or slippery, you need to account for longer stopping distances.

Winter Driving

If you have a GPS navigation system, keep tabs on possible delays and detours. If your route must change, call ahead to tell your party that your trip has been altered accordingly. If you have an emergency give 9-1-1 a call. Also, make sure that your auto club membership is up to date you may need to call for a tow truck if you get stuck.


See Also — 7 Winter Storage Tips for Classic Cars

“winter driving.” by clive-staples is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Filed Under: Car Tips Tagged With: ANTIFREEZE, AUTO CLUB, car tips, snow tires, WASHER FLUID, windshield wipers, WINTER DRIVING

How to Inspect Your Wiper Blades for Winter Wear

December 1, 2010 by admin 3 Comments

A working pair of car wiper blades are a must for any vehicle. When blades are worn, they’ll streak, smear and skip, and won’t adequately clear your windshield. You need to have maximum visibility when driving – worn blades should be replaced immediately.

Winter can present challenges to your wiper blades as no other season can. Ice, snow, sleet, road salt, mud and debris can cause your blades to wear out faster. Under certain conditions, blades or frames can break, rendering your wipers inoperable when you need them most.

Change Frequency

windshield wiperYou may have heard recommendations to replace your wipers blades every six or twelve months. Under normal conditions, this recommendation is sufficient. However, if your car is exposed to prolonged and severe winter conditions, then an immediate replacement may need to be warranted.

Here is what you should look for when inspecting your cars wiper blades for seasonal wear:

1. Worn rubber – Cracks, chunks of missing rubber and splits are signs that your wiper blade needs to be replaced.

2. Broken frames – Frame arms and joints can detach at critical connection points.

3. Metal wear – Signs of corrosion on metal claws and joints can lead to wiper arm failure.

4. Lift carefully – Carefully place blades in the erect position and gradually help them make contact with the windshield. Wipers without full contact to the windshield or loose will not get the job done. Reattach or replace as needed.

5. Windshield fluid – Besides checking the blades, arms and related parts, make sure that your windshield washer fluid reservoir is filled. Use an agent designed not to freeze in winter. Make sure that squirt holes are unblocked before heading out.


See Also — 5 Tools To Help Safer Driving In Winter Weather


Rear Wiper Blades Need Service Too

Keep in mind that many sport utility vehicles and crossovers have a rear wiper blade that should be inspected and replaced as needed too. Always keep your windshield clear of ice; try not to use your wiper blades to remove frozen material as that will cause your blades to wear out faster.

Finally, replace your wipers at the beginning of winter and your blades should last for the season. Replace them again before summer and you should always have a clear view of the road. Consider keeping a backup pair in your trunk just in case.


Resources

2CarPros: How a Windshield Wiper System Works

Haynes: Windshield Wiper Replacement


Photo Credit: Hyperlux

Filed Under: Car Tips Tagged With: car maintenance, HYPERLUX.NO, REAR WIPERS, WASHER FLUID, windshield wipers, WINTER, wiper blades

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