Winter Safety Tips You Should Remember

The slow pace of winter should not be indicative of your attitude toward winter safety for
your car. Although many of these tasks can be done in the comfort of your own garage,
carport, or parking space in front of your house, some of them should be done by a qualified
professional. ASE master technicians will make sure that every system is assessed,
maintained, repaired, and replaced so that you will remain safe on the road and not stranded
on the side of the road waiting for AAA or the tow truck.

The Complete Inspection

If you have not already done so, you can have a bumper-to-bumper inspection done. A
qualified mechanic will inspect your car and all of its systems to check the health statuses of
them. They will connect your car to a computer to access any error codes and the mechanic
can give you a complete explanation of any messages you may have seen light up in the
cabin. If you have the check engine light come on, your mechanic can check the error codes
and decipher the problem. The electrical systems, suspension systems, and heating and
cooling systems will be tested and maintained. The inspection will include your battery,
windshield wipers, headlights, and even turn signals. Your winter safety check will include
most of these services, and you can request additional checks if you feel the need.

Don’t Forget Your Tires and Headlights

Check your tires to make sure they have the right amount of air in them. Many people have
tires with air pressure that is either too high or too low. It is crucial to note that you cannot
tell if you have the proper amount of air just by testing the firmness of the tire. Use an air
pressure gauge to properly measure the air pressure, which you can find at gas stations, auto
parts stores, and general merchandise stores with an automotive section. They are relatively
inexpensive and you can use the gauge to monitor the air pressure so you can determine if
you have a slow leak. Proper tire air pressure will help you drive safely and with better fuel
efficiency. Check your owner’s manual or locate the sticker on the driver’s side doorjam for
the air pressure that is recommended by the manufacturer. If you live in an area that
experiences a lot of snow, you may want to get a set of snow tires. While all-season tires are
supposed to provide good traction in almost any weather condition, car manufacturers are
outfitting the newer cars with low-profile all-weather tires that are wider than previous
models. Unfortunately, low-profile tires are not suitable for driving in snow.

Get Those Winter Safety Kits Packed and Stored

Even the best-laid plans can go awry and sometimes the most well maintained cars are
sidelined because of accidents and other problems that can occur. You should make it a point
to assemble winter safety kits to make your wait on AAA, a tow truck, or a good friend to
come to your aid. Your kit should include blankets, a first aid kit, flashlights with good
batteries, and phone numbers to emergency services, taxis, and doctors. You should also
make sure that your cell phone battery is charged and carry a spare fully charged battery
with you.

Which Engine Oil Should You Use?

Engine oil is so important to the health of a car that it has often been compared to being the
blood and the engine to being the heart. The analogy has some people regarding it as so
important, that they will change their oil every 3,000 miles but only do other maintenance
tasks sparingly. With all of the many different brands, weights, and types of oils on the
market, you may be confused about which oil to pick for your next oil change. Keeping
some simple things in mind may help you make the best decision for your needs.

Engine Oil: What is it Good For?

Engine oil is the product that lubricates your engine and keeps it running. It protects the
engine from rust, gunk, and corrosion. It decreases the heat generated by the moving parts
by forming a protective coating over the moving metal parts to decrease the friction. The
reduction in friction means that less heat is produced. Engine oil has additives in the
mixture, which are chemical agents that serve as detergents to clean the engine. The
molecules of the additives keep the dirt in suspension so it will not settle into the moving
parts. Technology has produced engine oils that do not need to be changed as frequently,
enabling you to save money on car maintenance and repairs.

You Mean There’s More Than One?

The three main types of oil are conventional, synthetic blend, and synthetic. One type of oil
is conventional oil. This type is made from petroleum hydrocarbon, which is crude oil. This
crude oil would be the same oil that is spouting through pipes at oilrigs. This oil is good for
the newer model cars because it is lighter oil. Most newer cars have parts that are too snug
against each other for a thicker oil to penetrate. Therefore, the newer cars benefit the most
from conventional oil. The second type of oil is the synthetic blend oil. This oil is a mixture
of crude oil and lab-created lubricant. These oils are good for performance cars and cars that
are older or have high miles. The third type of oil is the synthetic oil, which is laboratory-
created and is the most expensive oils on the market. Check your owner’s manual to
determine which one you can use in your car. Make sure you understand the viscosity rating,
or weight of the oil. Single viscosity oil has only one number to denote its rating, such as
SAE n. This rating denotes the time in seconds times ten that it takes the oil to flow from
one point to another when it is warm. Multi-viscosity oils have two ratings, represented as
nW n, with the first number representing the flow rate of the oil when it is warm and the
second number represents the flow rate of the oil when it is cold.

Which One to Get?

You should first determine the type of oil that is already in your car and check the owner’s
manual to determine if it is the right one for the winter. Choose low-viscosity oil in the
winter because it will flow easier when it is cold. Consult with your mechanic to determine
which would be the best choice for you.