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What things should I think about to prepare my vehicle for winter? |
Have a "winter tune-up".
Hoses, belts, water pump and secondary ignition
components (spark plugs, wires etc) should be inspected
for wear. It is much more convenient to have them
replaced as preventative maintenance rather than
having a breakdown on the side of the road in frigid
temperatures.
Tires should be inspected for improper wear and
sufficient tread depth. Tires that are significantly
worn can be a danger to you and other motorists
on the road with you. Also have the tire pressure
tested for maximum handling performance.
Make sure your battery and charging system are working
properly. A battery that started your vehicle well
in the summer may not in the winter. Engine oil
is not as fluid in cold temperatures, so much more
battery power is needed to crank the engine. Batteries
also lose power in colder weather.
Have the cooling system inspected. Antifreeze needs
to be tested so you can be assured that it will
protect your engine in cold temperatures. If your
coolant is dirty, have it flushed. If it has been
a couple years since you have had your coolant flushed,
have it done before winter. Rust inhibitors in anti-freeze
break down over time and rust in the cooling system
can cause various problems. Make sure your antifreeze
is always full; low antifreeze may result in lack
of heat. Antifreeze needs to be diluted 50/50 with
water. Any less may cause the fluid to freeze in
your engine and damage the engine.
Make sure your wiper blades are in good operating
condition. There is nothing worse than being caught
in a snowstorm with wiper blades that won't clear
the windshield or rear window! Also remember to
keep your washer fluid reservoir full. You never
know when you will need to use it! On a messy day,
you can easily go through a half-gallon or more!
Keep your fuel tank at least half full. One reason
is in case you get stranded and the engine still
runs, this will be your only source of heat on a
cold day and you will need the fuel to idle the
vehicle.
Lloyd's Automotive has a "Winter Special" package that includes inspections of the aforementioned
items, so your best bet is to make an appointment
to have these inspections performed. |
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What can I do to make my vehicle more fuel efficient? |
Keeping your vehicle maintained will help increase fuel efficiency and there are several items to have checked regularly.
- Under inflated tires increase rolling
resistance, thus working the engine harder.
- A dirty air filter may restrict air fuel and cause the vehicle
to run rich or burn too much fuel.
- Worn spark plugs won't ignite fuel properly, leading to unburned
fuel exiting the exhaust.
- A faulty or worn oxygen sensor may be unable to detect and adjust air/fuel
mixture.
- Dirty engine oil increases internal engine
friction, thus leading to the engine working excessively
to keep things moving.
- A loose gas cap or leak in
the Evaporative Emissions System may cause fuel
to evaporate before even reaching the engine!
All of these factors, on a single basis, may sacrifice fuel economy. If there is more than one contributing
factor, your fuel efficiency will suffer greatly!
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What
does the Check Engine/Service Engine Soon light
on my dash mean? |
The Check Engine/Service Engine
Soon light comes on the dash when there is an emissions
related failure. Be sure to take this seriously.
This light does not mean that you just need an oil
change or routine maintenance. There are many different
systems/component failures that may cause this light
to come on! Your vehicle will need to be taken to
the repair shop for diagnostic work.
If the light stays on solid, don't panic, call your repair facility and set up an appointment to determine the reason the light is on.
Do this at your earliest possible convenience.
If your check engine light is on solid, and the vehicle is running rough, you want to get to your repair shop as soon as possible.
If the light is flashing, this means things are slightly more serious. Also, get your vehicle to your repair facility ASAP to prevent the risk of more damage. If the light is blinking and the engine is running rough, stop the vehicle immediately to prevent potential serious damage. Arrange for your vehicle to be towed to your repair facility.
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Recommended
Maintenance Intervals (RMI's) - Do I need these services? |
Most vehicle manufacturers
today have some type of maintenance/inspection
mileage interval which needs to be followed to
assure a vehicle's reliability and longevity expectations;
some are required to meet emissions warranty guidelines.
Everyone has different driving habits which can
have a significant impact on the service interval.
You should always have the inspections performed
for proper care of your vehicle.
Discuss any maintenance items with your trusted
repair shop. Depending on your type of driving,
not all maintenance items may be necessary at
that interval.
Keeping up with maintenance can greatly reduce
the risk of costly repairs in the future.
Frequent short trips tend to be harder on vehicles
especially in the northern climates where vehicles
experience a greater operating temperature variance.
Check your owner's manual, they sometimes have
provisions for maintenance interval records keeping
and maintenance check lists for your convenience.
Exchanging/flushing of fluids is relatively inexpensive
and will increase the life span and reliability
of associated components.
When performing these inspections, other non-maintenance
related problems that may ordinarily go unnoticed,
might be detected and can save you grief later
on when they break unexpectedly.
Maintenance is always worth the time and investment. |
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Is
there anything I can do to give myself some peace
of mind before my road trip? |
First, follow the fuel efficiency recommendations mentioned earlier.
In addition, wiper blades need to be inspected for smearing and
tearing. Torn or smearing wiper blades will not
clean effectively. Be sure to test the windshield
washers and keep the reservoir full. Depending on
the climate, wiper blades may need replacing every
6 months.
Interior and exterior lights should be inspected
prior to a road trip. When lights are inoperative,
other motorists may not know your intent to turn,
stop etc.
All fluids, belts, hoses and tires should be inspected
to insure proper level and wear. Steering and suspension
components should be inspected for wear as well.
A good rule of thumb is to bring your vehicle to
the repair shop and explain your desire to take
a road trip. Lloyd's Automotive will perform a safety
inspection on all vehicles we service.
Now is also a good time to have any suspicious noises
or feelings looked at to determine the severity
of any problems. |
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