HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1986-11-05, Page 19PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1986.
Save driving headaches with winter precautions
The saying goes, “An ounce of
prevention is worth a pound of
cure. ’’ As the cold, wet weather of
winter takes hold, your response to
the wisdom of these words can
make the difference between how
reliable your car will be in meeting
the challenges of the season.
One of the most important steps
in your preventive maintenance
regimen will be to trouble-shoot
problems under the hood. Follow
ing the proceeding set of tips, you
should be able to keep your car
running well and on the road
instead of in somebody’s service
station.
LENGTHY WARM-UPS
UNNECESSARY
Many car owners are under the
misconception that you can hurt
the engine by starting it right
away. However, thisjust isn’t true.
The engine only needs a few
seconds to steady and to circulate
fluids such as the oil. As long as you
areeasyonthegaspedal during
the first few minutes of driving, the
engine should become warmer
much faster than through idling.
You will also save yourself a
significant amount of gas in the
process.
CHECK OIL REGULARLY
As the trend at gas stations
moves toward more self-service,
some car owners are neglecting the
regular process of checking their
oil. This can be extremely danger-
oustoyourengineparts, especially
during cold weather when they are
subject to greater strain.
It would be ideal if you checked
the oil level every time you visited
the gas pump. Most car owners,
however, do not follow this prac
tice. Suffice to say that the oil
should be checked at least once a
week.
For cold weather driving you
should be using multi-grade
weight oils no lower than 10W-30.
They are designed to remain
thinner and circulate more easily.
The frequency with which you
change the oil will depend upon
how oftenyoudrive,butkeepin
mind that you should put in a new
Check
wipers
before
winter
Perhaps more than any other
automotive component, wind
shield wipers are taken for granted
by motorists until, of course, it
rains, or the car .'s splashed by
another vehicle.
Yet, according to a survey of
nearly 3,000 car owners by Anco
Windshield Wipers, 38 per cent of
original owner vehicles have never
had a wiper blade replaced.
For safety assurance, a wise
time to inspect the condition of
wipers is before the challenges of
winter driving.
oil filter after every change.
CHECK ANTI-FREEZE AND
OTHER FLUIDS
One of the best ways to make
sure your engine doesn’t have
problems during the winter is to
keep a close eye on anti-freeze and
other fluid levels (transmission,
brakes, etc.). Depending upon how
low temperatures generally go
where you live, you will need a
varying level of freeze resistance
from your radiator fluid.
A simple hydrometer, which you
can purchase for a couple of dollars
at most retail chain or auto parts
stores, will help you test existing
resistance level and give you a
good indication of how much
anti-freeze you need to add. To
help make your radiator and heater
more efficient, youshould use a
quality cooling system flush.
At the beginning of the winter
you should also inspect your
pressure cap to make sure it is in
good condition and check all lines
running to and from the radiator
for leaks and ruptures. These
problems could cause you to lose
anti-freeze during the strains of
winter driving.
Take the pressure cap off (while
the engine is cold) and then turn
the engine over. If more than a
quarter-inchof fluidis missing,
you should add anti-freeze.
Repeat the procedure again in a
week. If a significant level of fluid is
missing, you will probably need to
add a quality “stop-leak’’ product
to your radiator.
Cold weather and dampness can
sap the strength of the electrical
system so it is important to give this
area of the car a good inspection at
the beginning of the season.
Unless you have a maintenance-
free battery, check the water level
in your car battery every few
weeks. Since battery acid is highly
dangerous and volatile, take pre
cautions to protect your skin and
remove any objects such as
cigarettes before taking off the
vent caps and adding water.
While the battery cables are off,
clean the battery terminals with
a piece of sandpaper. This increas
es the odds of getting the car
started on a really cold day.
Other electrical parts such as
battery cables and spark plugs
should also receive some close
attention. If you are looking at a
tune-up in the future, now may be
the perfect time.
FUEL SYSTEM AFFECTS
ENGINE’S PERFORMANCE
Your upder-the-hood mainten
ance regimen should include con
sideration of the car’s fuel system.
Winter is traditionally the hardest
driving time of the year for your
car. Factors such as a dirty
carburetor and deposits on valves
can impede the engine’s ability to
perform.
\
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1984 Buick Park Avenue, 4 dr.,
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1982 Cutlass Supreme
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1982 Ford F150 Super Cab
1982 Chev. 1/2 ton pickup
1981 Dodge 1Z> ton, 6 cyl.,
with 0/D trans.
1981 Datsun 510 Stationwagon
1979 Cutlass Station Wagon
1979 Ford LTD II, 4 dr.
1979 Olds Regency 98, 4 dr.,
loaded
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For Ford Car
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TruckOwners
1. Tires - pressure/wear/align.
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3. Brake Fluid Level
Power Steering Fluid Level
Rad Coolant level/condition
Wiper Blades
Battery Connections
Lights
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■ I1 /I GODERICH
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263HURON RD., GODERICH 524-8347