Winter is fast approaching in Lexington and we often talk about winterizing our homes but often neglect getting our vehicles ready for winter. Many of the
things on the list can be completed on your own or you just might want to leave it all to
a trained mechanic. Either way spend a few minutes reviewing this list and get ready for winter!
- Check your battery. The
chemical reactions required to generate power in a car battery slowdown in cold
temperatures. At 5 degrees F, a fully charged battery has only half its rated
amp-hour capacity. Also during cold weather, your engine requires more current
from the battery in order to get the engine started. Combine less power output
with more power requirements and you get a car that won’t start on a cold
winter morning.
- Change your wiper blades and
refill your wiper fluid. Build-up of winter precipitation and salt
on your windshield can greatly reduce visibility. Wiper blades are only good
for a year. Replace yours if they look frayed or worn and consider getting “winter
wiper blades”.
- Consider getting snow tires. Snow tires are made of a softer rubber than
all-season tires which allows them to retain flexibility in
the bitterest of cold. Snow tires also have tread patterns specially
designed to grip into snow and ice.
- Check your tire pressure. If
you don’t replace your regular tires with snow tires, at least keep them
properly inflated during the winter. Cold weather causes air pressure in your
tires to drop. For every 10 degree drop in temperature, your tire’s air
pressure will drop about 1psi. A properly inflated tire ensures the best
possible contact between the road and the tires which is essential for safe
traction when driving in wintry conditions.
- Check your anti-freeze
mixture. The mixture of anti-freeze and water in your radiator should be
about 50:50. This will prevent the coolant in your radiator from freezing. If
you want to check the composition of your radiator’s fluid, you can pick-up an
inexpensive anti-freeze tester at your local auto parts store.
- Stock your car with emergency
supplies. You never know when you’ll get stranded on the side of the road
in a hellacious blizzard. Be prepared by having your car packed with emergency
supplies. Examples are bottled water, blankets, small/travel snow shovel,
flashlight etc.
- Change the oil and adjust the
viscosity. In order for your engine to run, it needs proper lubrication
from oil. Unfortunately, cold weather reduces the oil’s effectiveness. The
colder it is outside, the thicker the oil gets, and thick oil doesn’t circulate
through your engine as easily as thin oil. Consequently, your engine doesn’t
get the lubrication it needs during start-up and you’re left with a car that
won’t start.
- Check your belts and hoses. Cold temps can weaken the belts and hoses that help make your engine run. Check them for any signs of wear and tear and have them replaced if needed. If a belt snaps while you’re driving, you’ll have to wait for a tow truck to come pick your cold butt up.
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