Are you and your car both ready for winter? It’s okay if you’re still doing some of the prep work for colder conditions. West Omaha Auto Service has some tips you might still be able to use.
Get Ahead of Battery Failure
Winter is the worst time of year as far as your car’s battery is concerned. If the battery is weak or old, then it may very well fail if the temperatures drop low enough. Get your car’s battery tested and if it’s new enough that a charge will keep it going, do so. Otherwise, it might be time to consider replacing the battery now rather than later.
Have Your Coolant Tested
Coolant does double duty as antifreeze, so it’s important that during winter months your antifreeze is up for the job. Most people don’t realize that coolant is actually about half water. That means if you’ve added water to your cooling system at all, that’s upped the percentage of water in the coolant and may make it less effective as the temperatures drop. Get your coolant tested and possibly replaced if it’s necessary.
Consider an Oil Change
Another fluid you want to get ahead of is your car’s engine oil. Old or dirty oil isn’t going to be as helpful to your engine when it’s cold out as you want and need it to be. If you’re going to be due for an oil change in a few weeks anyway, go ahead and look at your engine oil and consider getting an oil change now rather than later.
Put Together a “Just in Case” Kit
The hope is always that you won’t experience an accident or a breakdown during winter weather, but if you were to, you need to be prepared. Stock up the trunk with some extra blankets, maybe even portable hand warmers. Add some water, some non-perishable food, and an extra cell phone charger or power bank. If you do end up needing any of those items, you’ll be glad to know you’ve got them with you.
West Omaha Auto Service in Omaha, NE can help you to winterize your car, too. If you’re overdue on any services or just aren’t sure what is causing your car to do certain things, give us a call. We’ll be happy to set up an appointment to take a closer look for you and let you know what’s going on with your car.