Is Your Car Winter Ready?

Tweet

Page 1 2

It’s winter again, so say goodbye to sipping margaritas by the pool and get yourself ready for the cold. There is plenty of ‘frosty fun’ to be had skiing, snowboarding or using that snowmobile. But, with all the potential fun to be had there is also potential danger for any winter driver. As snow and ice begin to fill the roads the term ‘drive safe’ becomes even more imperative and the list of potential car troubles becomes even more evident. No one wants to get stuck in the cold, so it important to take the time to make sure that your car is winter ready.

There are many people who are not ‘winter ready’ and just as many cars to accompany them. However, as long as you follow this winter checklist you can count on a hassle free season. Remember, fall is the best time to ensure you are all ready for winter; proper preparation is the key to a trouble-free winter.

Engine

A diagnostic check-up of your engine should be done before winter sets in. A good diagnostic check-up will check for worn spark plugs, faulty wiring, emission problems and any control devices that may need attention. If these are not attended to they can lead to ‘hard starting’, stalling, and even diminished power.

Battery

Cold weather is especially hard on batteries. Old batteries should be checked for power and clean tight connections. Your battery should have enough ‘juice’ to sustain cold starts. Furthermore, the only accurate way to detect a weak battery is with professional equipment. There is, however, routine care that you should perform such as cleaning surfaces, re-tightening loose connections, scraping away corrosion and checking battery fluid levels. You can purchase a battery heater to warm your battery to above ambient temperature; this will extend your battery life and help with quick starts.

Fuel line

During the winter there is the possibility that your fuel-line may freeze, this can become a very costly problem. This happens when water vapour or moisture gets caught in your fuel tank and subsequently freezes in your fuel line. In order to avoid this problem it is recommended that you pour a bottle of de-icer (about 4 oz per every 5 gallons of fuel) into your gas tank about once per month. Fuel de-icer is relatively cheap but you can also use ‘Methyl Hydrate’ as a suitable alterative. Methyl Hydrate contains methanol and is much more potent than traditional de-icer, so you won’t need nearly as much. Also, try keeping your gas tank full during the winter –this will help prevent water vapour from getting caught in your tank.

Oil

Winter is much harder on your oil and it requires a more regular changing along with your oil filter. As the temperature drops, the oil in your car becomes increasingly viscous which causes it to circulate poorly. You will need to buy engine oil that is thinner and will circulate well. Your car manual should specify what the best grade of oil is for your particular automobile.

Coolant System

Your coolant system is responsible for protecting your engine against corrosion; it is also responsible for providing you and your car with heat. It is a good idea to completely flush and refill the coolant system before winter sets in. Your coolant concentration and levels should also be checked regularly. Proper winter coolant (or antifreeze) should be approximately 60% ethylene glycol to 40% water, although the exact mixture for your automobile should be confirmed in the owner’s manual. It is also a good idea to drive with an extra bottle of prepared coolant in your car. Surprisingly, less than 30% of winter drivers have taken these proper ‘coolant’ precautions.

Windshield Wipers

It is especially important that you have clear vision of traffic on those slippery winter roads, so you need to make sure you replace those old and worn wiper blades. Rubber clad blades are a great choice against windshield ice build-up. It is also a smart idea to stock up on winter washer solvent and keep your reservoir filled to help keep a clear vision of the road.

...Continue reading>>

Suggest an article

Page 1 2

 User Comments:

jimmy

Jan 10, 2009 5:29 PM

this is great

Tom

Dec 1, 2008 6:51 PM

I dont bother with them.. i use seasonal tires. summer for summer and winter for winter. All season are okay, but they will never match the quality of seasonal tires in season

jake

Nov 29, 2008 3:46 AM

whats the deal with all season tires.. better. worse. what?

mynamehere

Nov 25, 2008 9:28 PM

winter? its summer here haha!

Name:

Email: (This is optional and will not be displayed)

Message:

NOTE: Shave Magazine accepts no responsibility whatsoever for the content of comments made by users or any of the repercussions that may arise from such comments.