It's Fall, Prepare Your Car For Cold Weather
As fall approaches and Americans are busy installing storm windows and turning their clocks back, experts advise we prepare our vehicles for the cold months ahead. “An ounce of prevention can result in trouble-free driving through autumn and winter,” explains Joel Burrows, a.k.a. "The Car Doctor" and Vice President of Training/R&D at Precision Tune Auto Care, who offers the following autumn car care tips.
· IGNITION/TUNE-UP: Vehicles are harder to start in cold weather and require a greater amount of energy from the ignition system. Make sure you get a diagnostic check up.
· COOLING SYSTEM: The car doctor says fall is the time to empty and flush the cooling system, replenishing it with the proper mixture of coolant/antifreeze and water, depending on climate.
· BELTS AND HOSES: To inspect belts and hoses, simply look at them. If the belts appear to be cracked or worn, it's time to replace them. Through inspection, drivers can eliminate costly repairs resulting from their failure on the highway. Hoses need replacing when they get soft or start to bulge. Hoses can be tricky in that they wear from the inside, so limiting your inspection to just a look can over-look a potential wear issue. A trained certified professional can provide a thorough inspection and based on wear, mileage or time, recommend the appropriate service action.
· LUBRICATION SYSTEM: Change oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, or as recommended by your car’s manufacturer. A multi-viscosity oil is best for most driving conditions. Your owner’s manual will specify the type and weight of oil to use for cold weather driving.
· AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID: Check transmission fluid frequently in the winter, especially if you have an automatic transmission. If the fluid on the dipstick is brown instead of light pink or red, it may indicate the need for a transmission fluid service.
· TIRES: Make sure tires are properly inflated as recommended in your owner’s manual. Check for wear and adequate tread depth, since tires provide critical traction in slippery weather.
· BRAKES: Fall brake inspection is necessary to assure proper pad thickness on shoes and disk-braked pads. Don’t forget to inspect the Parking Brake cables and mechanisms. Frozen cables can cause severe brake wear. Also, it’s important to check brake fluid level at monthly intervals, advises Burrows.
· WINDSHIELD WIPERS/WASHERS: Inspect and replace cracked or brittle wiper blades, reminds Burrows. If needed, add antifreeze washer solution to the spray reservoir to prepare for slush-covered windshields. Proper vision while driving during snowstorms is a matter of safety.