While it was a balmy 65 degrees here today on the east coast, no one really believes that will continue. In fact, in the preview of the local 11pm news, the reporter gave us their usual lead in that attempts to project doom, and let us know that the extreme cold is days way. During the winter, we go out of our way to make sure our kids are all bundled up, we make sure our heat is on, we make sure we have chap stick. We even make sure we look fashionable by purchasing the latest, most fashionable scarf. Thoughts of our car’s feelings during the winter is probably 1000 entries down on our to-do list.
Unless you are extremely wealthy, you probably do care about your car’s health and well-being. A well-taken care of car will last longer, and if you are a serial trade-in-er, I would assume you care about the health for monetary reasons(trade in value!). Good news, most cars are generally low maintenance as long as you care of it, especially in it’s younger years, and if you just remember a couple simple tasks, your car should be good to go.
First, carry anti-freeze. Leave a jug of that blue stuff in your trunk, next to that lamp you probably have not returned yet. It doesn’t take up much space and your car will thank you one day. Just make sure you don’t get thirsty and drink it.
Next, remember to bathe. I don’t mean you(I do, just not in this case. Please remember at least once a day, your friends, family members, and co-workers will thank you). Bathe your car I mean. Every month or two, especially in the winter months, take your car for a car wash. Every 6 months, give it a wax. Yes, it will make it look prettier, but for more practical reasons, you will be getting all the salt off of it, which directly leads to rusting of the vehicle. After a number of years, and your engine is running good, but everything else is falling apart at the seems, pieces of your car falling off due to a mixture of 20mph winds from nature, and a steady pace of 55mph driving down the highway, your car is now unsafe and virtually un-drive-able. You see everyday people buying new radiators, new brake pads, even new transmissions. You do not see many people buying new car frames.
Rotate your tires. The front tires get more action in most cars, and those tires wear more than the back ones. Each time you get your oil changed, rotate your tires too. Many times, buy googling oil change coupons, the tire rotation is thrown on free of charge. Make all your tires participate equally, and it will keep your alignment good to go, as well as throttling the frequency of needing new tires.
Avoiding potholes is easier said than done. I have yet to meet a driver who has told me, “Hey, I love driving down the highway at 75 miles per hour, and getting my senses rung when my tire dives straight into a 12 inch by 6 inch pothole.” While they are inevitable, especially when salt trucks, cold weather, and snow blows meet on the road for a few months starting in late December, there are a few things you can do to prevent them. One would be driving slower. The faster you go, the less time you will have to react. Another would be to pay attention to your surroundings. I am sure you have the same job that takes you the same route 5 days a week. Pot holes are memorable to your brain, and by paying attention where they are each day, you can program the map in your head to switch lanes or slow down when you know they are coming.
Lastly, start your car and let it warm up each morning. Invest in a automatic car starter, or simply brave the early morning frost and run out and start the car 5 to 7 minutes before you are leaving your home. You will be happier your not sitting and a cold car, and your car will be happier it had some time to warm up it’s body.
Take advantage of these easy to do tips and your car should stay in better shape.
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