Nov 2014 25

Preparing for Winter

Cold weather has arrived and it’s a good idea to learn how to winterize your car. In this blog post, Mohawk Auto Center is going to let you know about exactly what you need to do.

First, you should make sure your vehicle is using the proper kind of oil. If you live in temperatures where things go below freezing, you’ll want to switch over to less viscous oil. For example, if you run a 10W-30 in the summer, you may want to try moving to a 5W-30 when you change your oil for the fall or winter.

Taking care of your car’s coolant system is important too. Before the weather gets too cold, you should make sure that the coolant you’re using contains ethylene glycol. It’s important to note that there is a winter ratio of 60% coolant to 40% water for most vehicles. You should check your owner’s manual to be sure or ask a repair technician if need be.

Cold weather affects battery capacity too. Make sure to have a thorough inspection of your battery, terminals, cables and fluid. You should check over the cables for cracks and brakes. Make sure the terminals fit snugly with no loose connections. You can also check your battery fluid by uncovering the refill hole (or sometimes holes) to see if the level is below the bottom of the cap ( you should refill it with distilled water). Read the charge level of your battery too after you turn the engine off (some batteries have build in hydrometers, while others may need a handheld hydrometer to get the proper information). Don’t forget to look for the manufacture date to get a clue as to when it will lose a charge and make sure that if you need to purchase a new one, it does not have a six-month-old manufacture date.

Snow tires are important too. Many car makers and tire manufacturers recommend switching to them in the winter. You can also get all-season tires so that you don’t need to change them, but you won’t get all of the specialized features that come with winter tires.

Getting the right windshield fluid is a must. Be sure to get a washer fluid with antifreeze solution in it, but be careful because some washer fluids can be harsh and damage your car’s paint.

Door locks can freeze and that’s why you should have some glycerine. You can easily break your key if you try to force the lock open without it. Keep the glycerine in a convenient spot like a desk drawer or in your garage so it doesn’t get locked into your car if things get too cold.

Emergency kits are important in every season, but imperative in winter. A spare tire in your trunk and the tools to change it out are what you’ll want to start out. You may want to consider adding flares, blankets, boots, a radio, extra engine oil, washer fluid, coolant and a flashlight.