Fall Car Care Maintenance
Posted on | October 9, 2007 |
Last week, we spoke with Lauren Fix, The Car Coach. She’s an experienced automotive expert (you’ve probably seen her on NBC’s TODAY show) and she has some of the best maintenance advice for the cold season ahead:
- Replace your air filter. Don’t know how to do this? Purchase one for your car (they are easy to find at a car care store). Bring it to your mechanic - they may even do it for free, says Lauren.
- Replace your wiper blades with winter-weather blades. “80 per cent of driving decisions are based on visibility,” says Lauren. Winter-weather wiper blades are especially designed for colder weather and to help ease that heavy snow off your windshield. (Your mechanic might put these on for you as well.) Also be sure to buy a gallon or two of de-icer windshield washer fluid.
- Switch out your all-season tires for your snow tires.
- Wondering if you need snow tires? “If you see snow more than three times a year - and I mean SNOW - you’ll need them,” says Lauren. Here’s a key tip from Lauren: “All-season tires are only designed for temperatures above 30 degrees.”
- Don’t change your tires too early!! According to Lauren, some areas have laws (like New York) as to when residents are allowed to use their snow tires (due to the studs and special treads). Not sure what the laws are in your area? Contact your city.
- Add winter items to your car’s emergency kit. Lauren suggests:
- blankets (have one for each member who rides in the car)
- extra hats, mittens, scarfs, coats, boots (Especially if you wear a light coat or dress shoes to work - you don’t want to be stuck in the ditch with high heels!)
- protein bars, raisins, sunflower seeds - just in case you’re stranded (Not candy bars - items high in sugar tend to freeze!)
- hand warmers - the magic number? Four. You’ll need 4 per person (2 for your feet, 2 for your hands!)
- More emergency kit tips…
Thanks to Lauren Fix!!
Comments
Leave a Reply