Qondio
Front
Intel
IntelMart
Shares
My Qondio
Account
Tony Lee > Intel > Getting You Car Ready for Winter

qondio.com/4Own PRINT EMAIL

Getting You Car Ready for Winter

By Tony Lee

If your a Summer person like me, you dread the coming of Winter. The days are shorter, colder and where I live, it doesn't snow. Lake Tahoe, not far from Sacramento, is a Winter resort where we go at least once during the Winter season.

One thing we do before we take that Winter drive, is make sure are car is ready for cold weather. Here are some tips to prepare your car for the Winter season. Some you can do, and some are best left for the professional.

Coolant System.
Have your antifreeze flushed and changed and coolant system checked. This includes an inspection of coolant hoses and clamps. Ask the mechanic to ensure these items are included when you bring your car in.

Engine oil.
During winter driving, you may want to consider switching to a thinner weight oil. In summer, you may be using a 10-30 weight oil, and in winter it may be recommended that you use a 5-30 weight oil. Refer to your user manual for seasonal weights.

Wiper Blades.
Although you may live in a mild climate, constant exposure to the outside sun and wind may deteriorate your wiper blades. I always look for lines left after a pass of the blade. Make sure your blades are free from cracking or deterioration. This usually indicates a worn wiper blade. As a rule, I use dual/double wiper blades when we go the mountains in Winter. This is also a good time to check wiper fluid levels.

Battery
Check for corrosion or loose cables on your battery. Clean or replace as necessary. Check the water level (some batteries are sealed and do not require this) and add water as necessary. You may want to have your battery tested when you have the coolant changed. Your mechanic will have the proper tools to check this.

Check your tires.
Tire pressure should be checked once a month. Having a small tire gauge in the glove compartment comes in handy. (The tire gauges at the service stations never seem to work). Keep in mind that the pressure drops as air temperature drops.

A simple way to check for tire wear is using a penny. Place it between the treads on your tire with Abe's head first. If you can see his head, your tires need replacing. Be sure to check for uneven or abnormal wear to the tread as well. This may indicate the need for a front end alignment or tire balancing.

Brakes, Lights and Heater
A bi-annual check of your brake system is highly recommended, Winter or Summer. Do a quick walk around and make sure all lights are functional, to include High head beams, backup lights and license plate light. Check to see your defroster system is working and free of any dashboard obstructions. This includes your cars rear window defroster.

Spare Tire.
Check your spare tire for air and make sure all tools needed to safely change a tire are present. This may include a reflective warning triangle and road flares. A reflective vest is a nice addition.

First Aid Kid.
I always carry a first aid kit in my car at all times. In some countries, this is mandatory. In addition to this, I add a space blanket, flashlight, transistor radio, and one set of extra batteries for each. For Winter, you may want to add an ice scraper and some cat liter for tire traction.

Having your car ready for the Winter driving season may cost a bit, but it helps to make your drive safer!

Have a safe Winter!

External Links

Equiteric Equestrian Supply | Free Spirit Saddles and Tack | Greenville Horse Tack Supply | Hoof-n-Trail Custom Horse Tack | Lazy A Tack Equestrian Supply | Lucchese Exotic Western Cowboy, Cowgirl Boots | MW Saddlery Inc Equestrian Supply | Saddle4All Western,English, Australian Saddles | Saddle4Horse Pleasure, Trail, Show, Barrel, Australian | SADDLEONLINE - Horse Saddles at Affordable Prices

Contributed by Tony Lee on October 12, 2008, at 2:57 PM UTC.

PLEASE VISIT THE CONTRIBUTOR'S WEBSITE
Western Show Saddles, Equestrian and Tack
Western Show Saddles and Tack
www.westernshowsaddles.net

Reactions

No reactions yet.

Rate This Intel

Please login or sign up to rate this intel.

Share

Copyright Notice

The copyright for this content entitled "Getting You Car Ready for Winter" has been specified by the contributor as:

All Rights Reserved

This content may not be copied, distributed or adapted by anyone under any circumstances.

Login Here with
Any Email Address
Any Password
No account? Sign up.

Intel Contributor
This intel was contributed by Tony Lee


Tony Lee

Qondio Archive
May, 2012
123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031


2008
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2009
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2010
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2011
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2012
January, February, March, April, May

Sign Up
Not a member yet? Qondio is a powerful network for making it online. If you have a website to promote, we can help. Sign up and get in on the action.

About Qondio
Welcome to Qondio! Discover the awesome power this network can deliver by going to our About page. Or you could skip straight to the Sign Up form.

ABOUT
SUCCESS GUIDE
FEATURES
FAQ
ADVERTISE
CONTACT
USAGE POLICY
PRIVACY POLICY


TWITTER
FACEBOOK