It is never advisable to go looking for trouble, except when it comes to your car and the winter. The last thing you want to have happen is to be stranded on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck; especially if you could have prevented it.
Frist, check the tires on your vehicle. Just as the temperature fluctuates so will your tire pressure. A handy pressure gage in the glove box will be a good addition to your vehicle’s equipment. Whenever there is a significant change in the temperature it is a great idea to check your tires. Look them over, as well, look for the wear indicators in the tire treads. If the little hump is close to the edge of the tread you might want to replace them before bad weather is upon you.
It is a good idea to check the operation of all your lights and clean the headlights. Be sure to include checking the emergency flashers.
At your next oil change be sure to check the temperature of your coolant. This check will show what temperature the coolant will prevent freezing; minus 20 is a pretty standard number.
You will want to look at your belts for aging and wear. You can pick up a cheap wear gage to check the belts. They may not show signs of splitting but they could have significant wear. This wear could cause the belts to slip in extreme weather conditions causing you to lose power steering or even over heat the engine.
Be sure your wiper blades are up to the task of cleaning your windows. If they make a noise when they go across the windshield replace them, don’t take chances. Top off the washer fluid as well, seeing is of utmost importance in the winter. You might want to clean the inside of the windows as well.
One thing most people don’t consider is keeping plenty of gas in your car. If you commute any distance to work you want to have as much gas as possible. You just never know when you will have to set in traffic or be parked because the road has been shut down.
Being prepared is more than just a Boy Scout slogan; it should be a way of life for the winter traveler.
Comments