Save money, get the most out of driving by winterizing your car

Local News

December 1, 2008

Anonymous The Weatherford Democrat Mon Dec 01, 2008, 09:29 AM CST

Danie M. Huffman

wdreporter2@yahoo.com

When preparing for colder weather, most people take necessary precautions to keep their children warm and perhaps their animals and homes, but many overlook their vehicles.

Local mechanics say that’s one thing you should place as a priority. Winter storms often strand motorists while traveling in North Texas. Winter storms have even been known to strike South Texas towns and coastal areas.

When winter advisories are predicted, experts advise to monitor TV and radios while tuned into the National Weather Service forecast and NOAA Weather Radio for information. If you must travel during bitter weather, keep your gas gauge near full to avoid ice accumulating in your tank. Fuel lines work better when filled. But the number one recommendation is to never travel alone.

Chris Bragg, owner of Cliff’s Auto Service Center Inc., said many common vehicle problems associated with winter are easily avoided with proper maintenance and prevention.

Bragg said the number one winter problem he has seen in his 20 years of servicing cars is people not flushing their coolant or servicing their radiator before winter strikes.

“It will stop up the heater core,” Bragg said. “You want to make sure to have a winter check performed on your vehicle before the first freeze comes.”

Tory McNeely, manager of Cliff’s, agrees.

“A simple winter tune-up can be very beneficial,” he said. “If the coolant is not changed, it breaks down the water pump and makes the thermostat stick and causes a lot of damage.”

McNeely, who has been in the field for more than a decade, recommends the coolant be changed every 60,000 miles.

Other tips from McNeely and Bragg include not using hot water to defrost windshields and making sure wiper washer fluid is not diluted to avoid freezing.

McNeely said tire pressure also changes with cooler weather, so checking it is wise.

“Also, never allow less than 3/30 seconds of tread on your tires,” McNeely said. “Anything less than that is dangerous.”

Cliff’s Auto takes walk-ins or appointments to check cars for winter problems. Most checks are performed as a courtesy, others require a minimal diagnostic fee.

McNeely said it’s always cheaper on your budget to pay a small fee for a check up than to wait until the issue escalates into a problem.

“By that time, costs can be a lot higher,” he said.

McNeely advises never start your car and immediately then put it in drive.

“In colder months, everything freezes overnight and it could tear up your engine,” he said. “It needs a few minutes to warm up.”

His last recommendation is to change the radiator cap.

“It weathers and cracks,” McNeely said. “It’s basically like dry rot and the rubber seal wears out.”

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Save money, get the most out of driving by winterizing your car

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