AHSI......Wintertime is here, and for the states in the USA that must deal with snow, here are a few tips that have helped me through the years. Car Maintenance....... Make sure you have an oil change and your fluids checked every three months. If you prefer an extra month or two in between oil changes, then I suggest you try synthetic oil. It helps save gas plus you gain better gas mileage per gallon. It enables your car to pick up speed faster and run smoother. It costs approximately $20 more than the average oil change, but it is well worth it. Always keep extra fluids available. Make sure you have a jug of antifreeze, de-icer windshield fluid, at least a quart of the oil, an ice scraper, 1 bottle of fuel injection cleaner/fuel line cleaner, and a pair of windshield wipers. I recommend that owners of pick-ups place a cinder block or 15lb sand bag in the bed of the truck to prevent fish tailing. A small bag of sand or salt is useful in all vehicles for snow and ice to sprinkle as you walk to avoid slips and falls. A small box in the trunk of your car should also contain a flashlight, blanket, flares, tire repair kit, spark plugs, fan belt, and water.
Check your tires, for most of us, it is probably time for 4 brand new tires. Depending on which state you live in, you have a choice of winterized or regular tires. Make sure you check your spare tire, and if you have trunk space replace the donut/small spare with an actual tire. This allows you to change your flat tire with a tire and keep right on trucking.
Always compare prices by surfing the net or visiting your local stores like Walmart, Pep Boys, Advanced Auto, Sears, Sams Club, BJ's, Costco and Autozone to name a few. Remember the Golden Rule, If you take care of your car, your car will take care of you.
Give yourself an extra half hour to warm up your car, scrape the ice/snow of your windshield and also to inspect your car. Watch your local news to avoid the troubled spots and to learn a possible better route to take. Always BEWARE OF ICE. Black ice is when the pavement appears to have a shiny coat that looks as if it is merely wet. If you have room in your parking lot, street or driveway, drive your car and try what I call the brake test. Start driving and then hit your brakes. This will show you which way your car will slide and/or pull towards another vehicle while driving. Also pull up your emergency brake, this will help you understand how your brake will lock up and act in the snow/ice on the street/road. Then put your car in reverse and do the test.
May God Bless You and Your Family During Your Holiday/Wintertime Travel.
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