Category: Healthy Home - Car Cleaning
Written by Written by Kristen Holt - Chief Editor for SmartLivingNews.com

WINTER CAR CARE

The winter months make many of us who live in colder climates painfully aware of the much-needed maintenance that our cars need. Snow, rain, and extreme temperatures often give them a hearty beating during this time of year but there are some simple things that we can do to maintain and protect our vehicles over the next few months. Here are some helpful tips to keep your cars in tip-top shape:

• Streaking, smearing wiper blades that decrease visibility on the road.
  
• Hesitation and stalling when trying to start your car.
  
• It's been more than 3,000 miles (or three months) since your last oil change.
  
• Dirt buildup and rust spots on the exterior.
  
• Uneven or excessive wear on tire tread.
  
• Small dings/cracks on the windshield.
  
• Dim headlights or taillights.
  
• It's been more than 6,000 miles since your last tire change or rotation.
  

• Car Exterior
  
  • “Wash your car regularly since buildup of dirt, salt, and other road elements can lead to rust spots and paint chipping.
    
• Windshield/Windshield Wipers
  
  • If you have any small dings or cracks get them filled. As the weather drops your windshield must deal with the "thermal stress" of a warm interior and a cold exterior. A small ding can turn into a very expensive, spreading crack.
  • Replace your windshield wiper blades. Heat and cold ruin the rubber on the blades so if you live in a cold climate and are using the same windshield wipers as you had over the summer chances are they won't do you much good during a rain or snow storm. Also, make sure that your wiper fluid is topped off (adding antifreeze solvent to the wiper fluid may also be helpful for those of us who live in areas that receive a lot of snow).
    
• Batteries
  
  • Keep your car battery fully charged since they are much weaker in cold weather. Also, if it is three or four years old now is a great time to invest in a new one since a weak battery can fail and leave you stranded
    
• Oil Check
  
  • Check the last time your oil was changed. To keep your engine running smoothly your oil and oil filter should be changed every 3,000 miles or every three months. In colder weather, sludge builds up faster because the engine takes longer to reach normal operating temperatures. Old oil reduces your car's performance and the sludge builds up in your engine.
    Change your oil to a lighter weight (usually 5W-30). This helps your engine start a little easier on a cold morning. Heavy weight oil is thicker and harder for your engine to circulate.
    
• Tires
  
  • Rotate tires that show uneven tread. Replace older tires with all-season or M&S tires. Check the air pressure often. And for those who live or travel in snowy conditions, tire chains are a great safety precaution to keep on hand.
    
• Brakes
  
  • Make sure the brakes and brake pads are in optimal condition.
    
• Lights
  
  • This time of year, more drivers will be spending more time on the road in the dark. Make sure all of your headlights, taillights, engine lights, and turn signals are working properly.
    
• Misc.
  
  • Get someone to check your heater and defroster - Very important!
    
  • Try to keep your tank at least half full - especially when embarking on a long drive.
    
  • Keep a "Winter Safety Kit" in your car that includes jumper cables, hand warmers, blanket, flashlight, basic tools, windshield ice scraper, etc. Emergencies happen when least expected!
    

http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov/stdPage.asp?Body=/GenInfo/winterCarCareTips.htm
http://www.studentnow.com/features/supplements/autoprepwinter.html
http://www.state.nd.us/dot/divisions/maintenance/wintercarcare.html

20 Jan 2005 11:31:10 AM