Preparing Your Car for Winter

by Robert, Cars for Keeps Mechanic

Like it or not, winter is just around the corner. You may not want to talk about it yet, I know that I sure don't, yet that is one of the more important jobs I have: making sure your vehicle is fully prepared for the next challenge.

Whether you are storing your vehicle over the winter or plan on using it to forge through the snow and ice, there are some key preventative maintenance steps you should take to make sure your vehicle is ready for the colder temperatures.

Your engine coolant is one of the most important things to have checked before the first snowfall. Coolant not only "cools" the engine but it also keeps the water mixture from freezing. When water freezes, it also expands. Fill a glass with ice cubes and let it sit overnight. In the morning when you wake up you can see how far the size was actually reduced. Imagine forming ice inside your engine with those very small passages interweaving through the block and heads. Now imagine that complex system now expanding. WOW, what a sight that is! When this happens, its pretty safe to say that the auto maintenance repair bill is extremely high!

So check your coolant, and if your unsure, bring it to Cars For Keeps and we'll make sure its OK. Oh, and in case you are concerned, we don't charge our clients for checking fluids, tire pressure or other simple (what we call) "no wrench required" type services.

To prepare and prevent is effort well spent. Until next time!