Car Snow and Ice Preparation
F
rosty will start to make his appearance on lawns across America soon, and that can only mean one thing. Winter is coming, and with it all the snow and ice that makes driving such a pleasure during the period. There are a few things to consider in order to get your car ready for all the fun of winter driving.
- Examine the anti-freeze - Just like it sounds, this green liquid will keep your car’s engine from turning into an ice block over the winter. Make sure that it is at the proper level. If you really want to prepare, you can even have it flushed so that any particles are removed as well as all the old liquid.
- Belts and hoses - Check any accessible belts and hoses for cracks in them. Look for soft spots on your hoses or blistering and bulging. If you find any thing that may remotely look different, change it. Changing them now is a lot easier then having a break down in the middle of a snow storm.
- Wiper Blades - Take a close look at the condition of your blades. If you see any missing chunks from them, or if they are stiff then replace them. Also look at their color. Are they a faded a chalky white? If they are then they are sun damaged and waiting to disintegrate on you. Using a anti-icing spray also is wise. This makes removing ice from your windshield easy and painless.
- Tires - How deep are your treads? Is there any warping or distortion to the tire? Maybe uneven wear? Having tires in good condition is essential for winter travel. They are what are responsible for connecting your car to the ground. You want that connection to be as good as possible. Any abnormal wear could signify other mechanical problems like worn tie-rods, or ball joints.
- Safety Kit - Being prepared for life’s twists and turns is crucial. Sometimes things like accidents happen and a little preparation could help to save a life - it could even be your own. Get a quality safety kit for your car. A safety kit is always a good thing to have in a car even if you don’t use it this winter. You will have it when it is important, and that’s the key.
- Breaks - Dry breaking and wet breaking are considerably different. You may never have noticed any problems with your breaks during the dry period, but the cold wet one can reveal problems quickly and dangerously. It’s best to avoid them by having your breaks in top condition for the winter. For example, if one side of your breaks pulls - when it’s dry out not much will happen. But a car where one side of the breaks pulls is dangerous. This pull can send your car into circles on ice.
- Ballast - Half of the country has no idea what this is, the other half knows too well. A ballast is used to get your car out of situations where it is stuck, like for example in snow. Usually a ballast is a concrete block of a large bag of sand. When stuck, place one of them near you tires and use it to get a "footing" to get out of the rut. When you’re putting your ballast into your car, it’s also a great time to check the tire pressure.
- Chains - Besides using snow tires, having a good set of chains is almost mandatory. Many roads require chains or you will not be able to drive on them. Good chains are always a good investment.
The amount of time you spend prepping your car for the winter will be returned by having less problems in the worst of situations. Remember to drive safely as a car is only as safe as its driver.
"It's the national addiction: warmth on chilly winter nights, innocence on Saturday afternoons, the essence of hearth, home and blissful abandon."
- Patricia Linden
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...Car winter snow
Be prepared
Be prepared