Winter here isn't a couple of cold weeks. It's four or five months of hard freezes, wind coming across the valley, and mornings well below zero. Cars that got away with skipped maintenance all summer get caught on the first really cold day. Here's what we look at every fall.
1. The battery
Cold cuts a battery's cranking power almost in half. A battery that's a little weak in September is dead in January, usually on the morning you have somewhere important to be. A load test takes a couple of minutes.
2. The oil
If your car parks outside, synthetic is the biggest cold-weather upgrade you can make. It still flows at -20°F, when regular oil has turned to sludge.
3. Coolant
It should protect to at least -34°F around here. Weak coolant can freeze and crack the engine block, which is a very expensive way to learn this lesson.
4. Wipers and washer fluid
Summer washer fluid freezes on the windshield the second you spray it. Switch to winter fluid, and replace wipers that streak.
5. Tires
Tire pressure drops about 1 PSI for every 10 degrees, so tires you filled in August are low by November. Check the tread too. It's all your traction on packed snow.
6. A small emergency kit
Blanket, ice scraper, jumper cables, flashlight, phone charger and a snack. You'll probably never need it. If you do, you'll be glad it's there.
Why October?
Because once the first real cold snap hits, everybody calls at the same time. Get it done early and you'll have your pick of appointments. Our winter car prep covers all of this in one visit. Call (208) 555-0173 to set it up.