Extremely cold weather can wreak havoc with your vehicle, causing damage to the battery, the engine, even the tires. The risk is amplified during a cold snap, as temperatures can drop overnight and make your morning commute even more difficult.
you already know to stay on top of the weather forecast; keep these tips in mind to prepare and protect your vehicle for winter:
- Check the battery regularly. Extremely low temperatures will drain your battery much faster than high temperatures, so make sure that the terminals and cables are connected and free of corrosion. In addition, coating the terminals with automotive grease or petroleum jelly can help prevent deposits from forming. If your battery appears swollen, or the casing looks like it might be cracked, bring your vehicle to our Service Center and have it checked out as soon as possible.
- Monitor your tires regularly. Keep your tires inflated at the recommended PSI, as cold weather drops the tire pressure -- which negatively affects handling and stopping ability.
- Check the engine oil regularly, and change it if necessary. Cold temperatures make the oil thicker and compromise with its ability to move freely through the engine. This, in extreme cases, could lead to a breakdown and expensive repairs.
- Inspect the belts, hoses, wipers and windshield.The hoses and belts and are much likelier to grow brittle and break in winter, and wipers need to be in their best condition to fully remove snow and ice. If your windshield has any cracks or chips, odds are that the damage will get worse in winter conditions.
- Keep the gas tank filled as often as possible.Keeping the gas tank at least half-full helps avoid gas-line freeze-ups. And every time you fill up, examine the coolant level. Running low on coolant (a.k.a., antifreeze) in winter can be devastating to your engine.
- Always supply the vehicle with an emergency kit.You can’t always prevent breaking down or getting stranded; better to be prepared in case something does happen.
Our showroom at 3101 Center Road in Brunswick, OH, proudly serves Ford drivers from the Strongsville, Medina and North Royalton areas.