It’s almost mid-December. More than a foot of snow has fallen in the past week in my neck of the woods and the temperature hasn’t risen above freezing since Thanksgiving. (I have a feeling it’s going to be a looooong winter.) To make matters worse I am not done winterizing my car. I’m not ready for Old Man Winter, and sadly my car isn’t either.
So, dear readers, learn from my mistakes. Stop procrastinating. Tackle the tasks you can do yourself and book an appointment at a service station and let professional mechanics finish the other jobs. And you’d better get a move on (note to self) because if you intend to drive to grandma’s for Christmas you only have about two weeks left.
1. Check Oil. Oil gets thicker when the temperatures dip, so check it every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. (Or check your owner’s manual to see how long you should go between oil changes.) You need your oil to be in good condition to keep your engine lubricated. Also, be sure to get a good quality, name-brand oil and oil filter. Check your oil once a month–if it looks dark brown or smells like burnt toast change it.
2. Check Your Battery. If you find that your car is not starting right away, it may be the battery. Have a mechanic check it.
3. Check Your Tires. It’s important to check both the tire wear and tire pressure. Every three weeks check the pressure in all four tires and your spare tire to make sure they have at least 32 pounds per square inch (psi). (Thirty-two pounds is a good average when you aren’t sure how much air to put in.) You can find the recommended tire pressure for your vehicle’s tires listed in your car’s manual, stamped on the side of the tire, or printed on a sticker on the driver’s-side door.
4. Check Anti-freeze: Check the level. You can see if it’s still good with simple test strips.
5. Check and Replace Your Air Filter. Mechanics recommend you change your car’s air filter every 12,000 miles or every 6 months. This is something you can do yourself. If you find that the filter is dirty and needs to be replaced make sure you get a quality, name-brand filter. Doing so will give you better fuel economy and performance.
Related Articles:
Winter Car Care Tips—“Hooray! My Car Started Today!”
Winter Driving: I’m Stranded-What Do I Do Now?
Winter Driving—Tips On How To Navigate Through Treacherous Travel Conditions
Preparing For Your Road Trip:
Part 1
Preparing For Your Road Trip: Part 3