Winter is here. That means it’s cold, snowy and you don’t want to find yourself stranded on the side of the road. Here are some steps you can take to help make sure your car is ready for the winter season. Call for an appointment if you need help preparing your car for the long New Hampshire Winter.
Of course you should always stick to your factory maintenance schedule. Things like transmission fluid changes, differential fluid changes and oil changes can really help make sure you don’t get caught in the cold.
Replace any of your dirty filters. Air filters on your engine help it breathe properly. Cabin air filters help you breathe properly when using things like the heat this winter season.
Fuel Deicer. Winter in New Hampshire gets really cold. Any moisture or condensation in your fuel tank / fuel lines can be problematic especially when temperatures fall below freezing. Be sure to add a bottle of fuel deicer about once a month on a fill up. Here at pellerin we pump your gas, ask us to do this for you while we are at it.
Flush your cooling system. I’m not talking about AC, I’m talking about your engine cooling system. If you are the type of person that has been putting water inside your radiator to get by for the summer, make sure you flush that out and put a proper 50/50 mix ready for winter. Water freezes and with a bad mix ratio you can have ice form in your engine cooling block leading to a load of problems. Ask us about flushing your cooling system.
Battery check. Sometimes a hard start on a cold morning could me it’s time for a new battery. Batters get old, it’s part of normal wear and tear on owning a vehicle. Making sure your car starts is key, so start with a nice new battery.
Top off fluids and check your wiper blades. If you are unsure of what cap is what in your engine bay as us to check and top off your fluids. This includes things like brake fluid, clutch fluid, windshield washer fluid, oil, transmission fluid etc. Without fluids things break down. Don’t get stranded on the side of the road. Check your fluids or have us check them for you.
Winter tires or at least all seasons. Snow and Ice mix is not uncommon for New Hampshire driving conditions throughout the winter season. Make sure your tires are ready. After all they are the only thing really coming in contact with the conditions of the road. Studs are great for ice, Winter tires are great for snow and all season tires are the jack of all trades, master of none. If you are ready to step up your winter tire selection we can help.
Have your brake pads, shoes or rotors checked. The last thing you want is to not be able to stop properly. Making sure your brakes are efficient is important in not only winter driving but any driving condition. We can help.
Carry some roadside flares, an emergency kit and some warm blankets just in case. Sometimes for no reason something goes wrong with an automobile. It’s why mechanics exist. Be sure that you are always prepared just in case.