’Tis the season for holiday travels. Before you head out to visit family for the holiday season, be sure the cold weather does not put a damper on your plans. With the colder temperatures settling in, it’s important to check your vehicle for common items affected by the cold, so you are ready to take on whatever mother nature has in store.
Below are five items to check that are directly affected by the winter weather.
WIPERS:The cold weather dries out the rubber and causes the wipers to not work as efficiently. General life expectancy of wipers is about one year. If you hear a rubbing noise when your wipers are in use, it is time to get them replaced.
TIRES:Low tread or dry rotting of your tires can cause poor traction in slippery road conditions, therefore it is imperative to get your tires checked. Ensuring your tires have the proper traction will ensure safer driving and better traction in less than ideal road conditions.
ANTI-FREEZE: Your anti-freeze, or coolant fluid, is green or orange fluid that cools your engine. It ensures that your engine does not overheat, and that components of your engine does not crack from freeze-thaw temperatures. Ideally, your coolant should have a freeze point of -34ºF. As a general rule of thumb, it is best to change your anti-freeze every 60,000 miles or every 5 years.
BATTERY: Cold weather is especially hard on car batteries. At 0ºF, a car’s battery loses about 60% of it’s strength. at 32ºF, it loses about 35%. During cold temperatures, starting an engine can take up to twice as much current as needed under normal conditions. It is advisable to have your battery tested, as well as your starting and charging systems prior to the deep cold of winter.
SPARK PLUGS: Spark plug reliability weakens during winter. A bad spark plug, ignition component or clogged filter may cause your vehicle not to start. The colder temperatures make it harder for your vehicle to turn over, making your spark plugs fail if they are close to the end of their lifespan.
Stop in today to make an appointment to make sure you vehicle is ready for winter.
| 978-433-8200 | |
| Monday | 8am – 5pm |
| Tuesday | 8am – 5pm |
| Wednesday | 8am – 5pm |
| Thursday | 8am – 5pm |
| Friday | 8am – 5pm |
| Saturday | 8am – 12pm |
| 17 Nashua Road Pepperell, MA 01463 | |