Winter Is Setting in Soon, Do You Have These Five Things on Your Car Working Perfectly?
When cold weather sets into Ohio and the snow turns to ice, doing any work on your car will probably be the last concern you will want to have as a burden. Even if you are going to be bringing your car to Canfield Auto Repair Service, who wants to worry about taking a car to the mechanic when family and guests are on their way for the holidays? This is a great time to be proactive and let C.A.R.S. help you with any of these you aren’t comfortable doing on your own.
1. First and most basic is to get your oil changed.
There is some small debate as to how many miles you should drive before changing it, but if the time window you prefer is going to fall in the dead of winter, maybe getting it done before the holidays is a good idea. An oil change is a basic thing and doesn’t take very long, so getting it done in January might not be a big deal. However, if you are overdue, you won’t want to get stranded in icy conditions and have to let your engine keep your heat running at length.
2. You also might want to consider getting a coolant flush and change.
Old coolant and debris in your cooling system, depending on the age of your car, can cause your car to overheat even in the dead of winter. A little more than a do-it-yourself project, Canfield Auto Repair Service can professionally drain and flush out your old coolant and refill your system with coolant appropriate for the season. While you’re at it, you should consider having your radiator cap and thermostat inspected.
3. How are your tires?
If you want a professional assessment, let Canfield Auto Repair Service check them for you. Tread depth is one aspect to check, and you can do it yourself using a quarter. Hold the quarter upside down so that Washington’s head points toward your tire. Place the quarter into the tread. If the tread touches or covers part of Washington’s head, you have adequate tread left. If it doesn’t touch at all, your tire is due for replacement soon. One of the worst things that can happen to a driver is to have balding tires on the road while navigating through snow or even worse, ice.
4. Often overlooked is the body of your car.
Road salt is notoriously hard on your car’s finish. Certainly a great habit is to get your car washed as soon as the roads and weather are clear. You can help protect your car against these harsh conditions by giving a good wash and an application or two of wax.
In addition to these four tips, it is always a great idea in winter to keep these things in your vehicle:
- Blanket (for obvious reasons)
- Window squeegee (in case the road debris is so bad you have to pull over to squeegee it off)
- De-icer (refill your window washer, but also to free up ice build-up elsewhere on your car)
- Dependable ice scraper and a snow brush
- Cat litter? (Yes, cat litter in case you get stuck because it will give you traction to get moving)
- First aid kit
- Flashlight
- Jumper cables
- Cell phone backup battery
- Bottles of water and trail mix
Take some initiative before the weather turns cold and bitter and before guests and family start arriving for the holidays. Get these things in perfect order on your car and you will be confident throughout the winter as you drive around town. Give Canfield Auto Repair Service a call if we can be of any service to you in getting your car ready for winter.
