ALT-6 How to Winterize your Car
Cool nights have ushered in cooler days, and you have swapped the shorts and sandals, for sweaters, hats and gloves. Just as you prepare yourself and your home for the winter months, so too, should you prepare your automobile.
Antifreeze comes first to mind. Water is used to keep the engine cool during the summer. during the winter, that water could freeze, expand, and crack your engine block. Nasty business. And expensive too. While the engine is cool, drain and flush the radiator and cooling system. Refill the system with an antifreeze solution, that is appropriate for your area. For Northern climates, and colder winters, you will need a higher antifreeze content than those in the South, with milder winters. Instructions are on the back of the bottle of antifreeze. (*NOTE* Clean up any spilled antifreeze, which smells like ambrosia, while being lethal, to your pets)
Flush and Fill the Oil This is a simple enough procedure for anyone to accomplish. In the warm or hot summer months, your engine runs hotter, and uses a different viscosity (oil thickness) than in the cold winter months. In summer for instance, your vehicle and environment might warrant an SAE-30 oil, whereas in the winter, a 5W-30 might be preferred. Check your owner’s manual, Google it, or simply call the dealership and ask them. If your up for the task, and don’t mind getting a little dirty, change the oil filter before replacing the drain plug. Keep in mind, it is often helpful to run the engine a good 5 minutes before draining the oil.
General Maintenance While your under the hood, and at the comfort of your own home, take a few moments, and visually inspect everything. Belts in good condition, not frayed, worn, or loose. Hoses in good condition, and snugly attached. Spark plug wires cleaned and connected. Change if needed. Check your battery cables too. Properly remove any built up acid around the cable connections and the terminals. Acid is often a visual cue to check the age of the battery, and replace as needed. By addressing these issues now, at home, you limit the risk of being stranded out on the road, in the middle of winter.
Still, things happen, so be ready for any situation, and prepare, by winterizing your trunk also. In addition to the usual tire changing / emergency equipment, (Jack, Spare, Flares), stash some extra clothing, blankets, a flash light, 1st aid kit, knife, matches, snacks and drinks for additional safety measures.
Every winter, the nightly news carries some story about someone getting lost, stuck or stranded for days or weeks on end. When they are found alive, the rescued are usually malnourished, dehydrated and half frozen. Basic survival equipment could make the difference from miserable to merely uncomfortable. It could also be the difference between life and death.
Nobody wants anything bad to happen, but at the end of the day, life happens. Better to be prepared then stuck out in the cold. Literally.
