Tips To Winterize Your Vehicle – Everett Post

With a rerun of La Nina for this winter, it’s time to get your car, SUV, or truck ready for the winter season’s drive. Consider having tire chains on hand for snowy or icy days and practice putting them on on a good weather day.

Autumn is here and winter is just around the corner. With a rerun of La Nina for this winter, which features another strong chance of snow in the North Sound as well as a likely healthy blanket of snow in the mountains, it’s time to get your car, SUV or truck ready for the winter season’s drive.

The first BIG step is where the rubber meets the road – your tires. Solid traction on wet, snowy, or icy roads is critical to safe driving. Check the profile of your tires using the quarter test. First slide George Washington’s head in. If his head is covered by the tread, your tires should be fine. If his head can be seen anywhere, new tires are needed. Perform this test at a number of points on each tire.

All season tires should do in the North Sound, but check with your tire dealer about the best tire for your vehicle. With good tires, you are not the one blocking traffic or sliding off the road. Also, remember to have tire chains handy for snowy or icy days and practice how to put them on on a good weather day. Practice makes perfect, especially when it’s cold outside and your fingers go numb.

Traction on the road also means having the correct tire pressure. Temperatures fluctuate greatly in autumn, winter and spring. Have your tire pressure checked at least once a month, or more often if the temperature fluctuates by 20 degrees or more.

It is especially important on our long nights to be able to see your windshield and all other windows. It is highly recommended that the windshield wipers be changed every year and autumn is the best time to go into winter. Make sure your wash liquid is full and use the deicer type to help out on cold days.

Has your vehicle been serviced every winter? In addition to changing the oil, you can check your air filter, battery and fluids including antifreeze. It is recommended that you maintain an antifreeze to water ratio of 50/50 and 70/30 in your cooling system.

Your service may also include inspecting straps, hoses, and other cables that may tear or fail in winter. In addition, the service can check your brakes so that your car can more easily stop if necessary. Also, make sure all vehicle lights are working, including your headlights, brake lights, signals, and running lights. It is not only important to see from the vehicle, but also to be seen clearly.

Between heavy rain on the road or snow and ice, winter driving can be dangerous. In such conditions, slow down, maintain a safe distance, and use your headlights and signals so others can see you and know what your next step will be.

Winter is also the time to make sure you have good winter safety gear on board. There are safety kits that contain flares, battery cables, reflectors and other visual and safety items – all in one kit. It’s also a good idea to have these snow items in your vehicle in case you get stuck – cat litter, a snow shovel, a sturdy ice scraper, and a snow brush. And in case you get stuck after avalanche control or waiting for a Cascade highway to open, have gloves, blankets, extra food or snacks and water in your vehicle. A first aid kit and another bottle of windscreen washer fluid are also good ideas to have on hand.

Have you ever had your door locks freeze? Water can enter door or trunk locks and freeze. To fix this, lubricate your locks with a silicone spray beforehand. If already frozen, use lock antifreeze to thaw the lock (s).

Also, try to keep your petrol tank at least half full if you have to wait a long time for the road to open, be it snow and ice or a traffic accident. The large temperature swings mentioned earlier can cause water condensation to form in your gas tank, and if your tank is at least half full you can fix this problem.

The winter driving conditions are often dangerous due to heavy rain and waterlogging on roads as well as snow and ice. It is important that you and your vehicle are up to the challenge. And in dangerous conditions, slow down, maintain safe distances and use your headlights and signals so others can see you and know what you are going to do next. Together we can experience a safe winter driving season and look forward to warmer, drier days next spring and summer.