We have been experiencing extremely cold weather that isn't expected to leave anytime soon. It's important to maintain and prepare your vehicle for these conditions to ensure your vehicle continues to run properly. We at Gone Fishing Garage are here to help with a few tips and services for your vehicle.
The harsh cold weather causes your battery power to decrease and an extra strain on the charging system. Thus, if you are already having issues with your battery they are likely to be exacerbated by the sub-zero conditions. A great way to prevent breakdowns in the cold weather is to have your battery and charging system tested.
Coolant and cooling systems are also imperative to be functioning in subzero temperatures. Your cooling system has an anti-freeze detergent to prevent damages to the radiator, heater core or even worse the engine. The best way to be proactive is to have your coolant concentration tested.
Another thing you may want to do in cold temperatures is extra start /run time to allow your vehicle to reach proper operating temperature. This will help everything run a little smoother and remove some stress on your vehicle. Vehicles are similar to people in the sense that when our muscles are cold they naturally move slower and are more restricted. Thus a proper warm-up time can make all the difference.
Something worth mentioning is the regular maintenance of your vehicles' fluids, belts, hoses and general runnability. Often times the extra stress from the cold can cause leaks and additional wear when not properly maintained. Regular oil change services and vehicle inspections can help address this.
The last and potentially most important thing to consider when driving in cold conditions is your tire pressure. Truly one of the most complex features on a vehicle is a tire. Something so simple as low tire pressure can wreak havoc on an icy road. Tires typically lose 1 pound of pressure per ten degree temperature drop. Although most systems have a tire pressure monitor, checking your tire pressure can save a you a lot of problems down the road.
We want you to stay safe out there and hopefully these few little tips will keep you on the straight and narrow. In the meantime, if there is anything we can do to help winterize and maintain your vehicle for sub zero conditions, please toss us a line for an appointment today.
God Bless!
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