2 minute read
Preparing Your Vehicle for Our “Salt Belt” Roads
by Expert Contributor Lou Matteo, Owner of Edgemont Automotive
Fall’s cooler temperatures are surely a welcome relief after summer’s scorching heat. While it’s so pleasant to get outdoors again, you’ll no doubt be enjoying outdoor activities and preparing your house for winter’s freezing temperatures and harsh weather ahead.
It’s just as important to prepare your vehicles for such extreme weather conditions. Today, the way to prepare vehicles for winter is much easier than it was years ago.
With today’s advanced fluids, changing your antifreeze is no longer needed before the first cold snap. The key is to make sure all of your vehicle’s maintenance checkpoints are caught up. If the fluids have been changed or checked at the scheduled mileage, then just be certain that they are full.
It’s a good idea to always have a little extra windshield washer fluid on hand because salted roads can make a mess of your windshield. Fall or early winter is a perfect time to change wiper blades.
Have your battery and charging system checked. Batteries hate extreme temperature changes. Always perform a visual inspection as well as a load test before winter and again before summer. Wet vent caps and corroded terminals are signs of acid leakage and potential problems. For even a quality battery, you should expect only about five years of reliable service.
Have your tires checked! Tire pressure is a great start, of course, but overall tire condition is critical. To pass safety inspection, a minimum of 2/32 of an inch of tread is required, but in winter weather, that is not enough space to clear slush from under the tire and enable it to make contact with the road, as it’s designed to do. For winter months, 3/32 – 4/32 of an inch is the ideal tread. Also examine the sidewalls: If you see cracks, let a professional check the tires. Sidewall damage can be a safety issue.
The brine and salt that’s used to clear our roads of ice and snow are hazardous to the underside of our vehicles. To help prevent rust and rot, have the underside of your vehicle rinsed down with at least a garden hose every spring. Not doing that simple annual maintenance could eventually result in rotted floor pans, brake and fuel lines whose repair costs can be expensive.
Expert Contributor Lou Matteo, Owner of Edgemont Automotive
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