Winter Auto Maintenance Tips
In the wintertime, your vehicle needs some extra care in keeping things running smoothly and efficiently. Cold temperatures and icy or snowy conditions can affect some of the mechanisms of your vehicle, as well as have an impact on the way you will need to drive to keep yourself safe. Here are some winter vehicle maintenance tips you can use to keep your vehicle running properly this season.
Saving Your Transmission
In the winter when the temperatures are lower than normal, it will take more time for the transmission fluid to run through the system to get to your engine. For this reason, it is recommended to avoid starting your vehicle and allowing it to idle while waiting for it to warm up.
It may seem a little annoying to have to get into a cold car to do your errands, but you will be saving your transmission from unnecessary strain. Drive slowly for the first mile or two to allow the transmission fluid to warm up and to get into the area where it will be lubricating the mechanics of your engine.
Your Vehicle's Wipers
You will want to maintain the windshield wipers in your vehicle so they will be able to be utilized when there is snow or freezing rain while you are driving. Keep your windshield washer reservoir full of fluid, because in the wintertime it is utilized more often due to wet weather and salty road conditions.
Make sure to turn off your windshield wipers when you turn off your vehicle, otherwise you may burn out the motor the next time you turn on your vehicle if your wipers become frozen in place. Change the wiper blades yearly so you always have a fresh blade to scrape away snow in the wintertime.
Your Tires
You will want to have tires that grip into the snow instead of leaving you to slip and slide on the road. In colder weather your vehicle loses air when the temperatures become cooler. This will make it harder for the tires to grasp onto the roadway. Check your tire pressure every few days to make sure that they are inflated to the proper level.
Your Battery
In colder weather, if your battery is getting old, it will have a harder time getting your vehicle to start. The best time to replace a battery is before the cold weather begins so you avoid a no start condition when you are out and about. Take a look at your vehicle manual to see how often your battery is recommended to be replaced and if it getting close to the limit, shop for a new one so you avoid being stranded in the cold.
Talk to mechanics, like those at Vince's Auto Service, for more advice.
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