Don't Get Your Car Stuck

Tuesday, March 1, 2005

by Mark Salem, NASCAR Performance Crew Chief (NAPSA)—NASCAR drivers have it easy; they only race in warm weather. Regular folks like you and me don’t have that luxury. We often have to get our vehicles started in very cold temperatures, and we don’t have pit crews to help us outif things go wrong. So, it’s that much more important for the rest of us that we keep our vehicles in peak condition as winter’s cold weather approaches. By taking a few basic precautions, you'll be far less likely to find yourself on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck to arrive. Battery Keep an eye on your battery. A battery’s cranking power is reduced significantly in freezing weather. Older batteries are notorious for fooling drivers by working just fine in warmer weather, then failing as soon as the weather turns cold. If yours is at least four years old, have it tested by your mechanic. When in doubt, replace it. And just to be safe, carry a set of quality jumper cables at all times in the vehicle. You may also want to consider buying a portable power pack, which can be used in emergency starts. MotorOil Give some thought to the kind of motor oil you have in your engine. During winter, you need an oil that can handle low temperatures and quickly flow to critical engine parts on those cold mornings. I’d recommend a fully synthetic oil such as Mobil 1 for the winter months; it’s designed to flow well even in lower temperatures and is an excellent oil overall. (For more information about Mobil 1, go to www.mobiloil.com.) weather, be sure to allow the engine to idle for a few seconds before driving off. Why? Because doing so will ensure proper oil flow and lubrication. That said, Filters, Coolant and Hoses Make sure your three main filters—oil, gas and air—are in good condition. Check your coolantlevel and the thermostat, as these ele- ments makesure that your engine warmsup properly. Coolant should be changed every two years; extended-life coolants last about five years. Also, be sure to test your heater and defroster, since you can’t drive if you can’t see through your windshield. Finally, check for leaking or soft hoses and have them replaced if need be. Tire Pressure Remember, air contracts in cold weather, and the air in yourtires is no exception. Your tire pressure will go down as the weathercools, so make sure your tires are inflated properly. Too little pressure will increase wear and increase your fuel consumption; too much pressure can reduce traction, especially in icy conditions. The proper air pressurelistings are often found on the side of the driver’s door, or in the glove box. (Don’t just look at the psi rating listed on thetire itself; that is the maximum psi, not necessarily the recommended pressure.) Make sure you also inspect your treads and replace any tires that are looking worn. Vehicle Warm-up Whenstarting a vehicle in cold don’t allow the engine to idle for a prolonged period after start-up in cold weather. All this does is waste fuel. It doesn’t do anything to warm drive-train components. After starting your car and allowing it to idle for a short time, just drive easily for several miles to ensureproper vehicle warm-up. Icey Windowsand Locks Make sure you keep an ice scraper in your car, and check your windshield wipers and defrosters (front and rear) to verify that they’re working properly. Deicers for door locks are also useful, but heated keys are a bit better when locksare frozen. Stock the Trunk It’s always smart to be prepared, so make sure you keep a few useful items in your trunk—a small shovel to help dig out of snow is a goodstart. I also recommend keeping a bag of sand in the trunk. It not only gives added traction with its weight, but you also can sprinkle it on snoworice to improve your traction. Finally, throw an extra blanket, hat and gloves in the trunk, just in case. Winter’s coming—so be your own pit crew chief and make sure yourcar is ready. Follow these simple steps, and you'll have a much better season out on the road. Mark Salem is the “NASCAR Performance Crew Chief” and hosts a regular “Be Car Care Aware” segment on Speed Channel’s “NASCAR Performance”television show. An ASE Certified Master Technician, he is the owner of Salem Boys Auto, an auto-repair facility in Phoenix, Arizona.

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