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Getting a Jump on 'Old Man Winter' Tom T  |
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 Getting a Jump on 'Old Man Winter'
What to get a jump on Old Man Winter? Here are a few car maintenance suggestions to insure your safety and save you time, aggravation and money.
* Does this scenario sound familiar? You're driving down the highway, and suddenly a huge mass of dirty snow mixed with saltwater splashes onto your windshield from a passing truck! In a panic, you start the wipers and shoot the wiper fluid, only to find that you have run out of fluid and the wiper blades are merely pushing the slush across the window! A very dangerous predicament, indeed! And totally avoidable! Make sure the windshield wipers are in good working order. A good set of wipers is a small investment with a big return. Also, check the wiper fluid level frequently. It's a good idea to keep a bottle of it in your trunk. And clean your windows with a quality window cleaner that removes oils. Problems often arise due to bad wiper blades, worn wiper arms, and oil (from the road) on the windshield. Is there anything more important than being able to SEE when you are driving?!
* Engine and transmission oils get very heavy when outside temperatures drop, causing them to flow more slowly (like molasses). Add to the equation a dirty clogged oil filter, and oil flow becomes substantially sluggish. Result? An increase in friction which produces heat. Higher temperatures can result in premature failure of transmissions and engines. So make sure both the engine and transmission maintenance is current. Pay close attention to the transmission and oil filters. Have them changed at the manufacturer's suggested intervals!
* Two criteria that must be met for your car to start in cold weather are a clean, rich fuel mixture and a hot spark at the sparkplugs. Make sure that the performance system is operating up to par. If you haven't had a computer scan done on the system lately, than have one done. Repair anything questionable. Also, perform routine maintenance that might be outdated such as a fuel filter replacement.
* Bad belts, hoses, and marginal cooling systems break down under the stress of cold temperatures. So make sure that all belts and hoses are in good condition. Soft or brittle hoses and belts that display cracks, glazing, or missing ribs (on serpentine belts) need to be replaced. Finally, have a cooling system checkup, including a protection check (-30 degrees is ideal), and pressure test for leaks. If you can't remember the last time you had the cooling system flushed and refilled with new coolant, it's due ... bucko!!
* Replace any torn protective rubber boots in the steering, suspension, and drivetrain. Torn boots allow road salt, dirt, and grit to contaminate these components. Loss of lubrication, increase in friction/heat, and ultimate failure of the component usually follows close behind.
* Check tire condition! This is a no-brainer! Make sure the tires have adequate tread and proper air pressure. The tread is absolutely necessary for traction on wet and snow covered roadways.
* Wash the exterior and undercarriage of your car weekly to keep it clean of road salt during high salting times. SALT + WATER+ METAL = RUST (alternative definition of 'rust'... "the eating away of your dollars"). If you're going to keep the car for a long period of time (six years or more) consider having a rust protection service done to the vehicle. I highly recommend the CarWell method, check 'em out online at www.carwell.com or call (716) 896-1677. And get a fresh coat of wax on the car to protect the paint!
Outlined below are some common winter-related problems and how to avoid them.
* Frozen gas lines: Ice forms inside the gas lines from condensation buildup. To avoid this from happening, keep your gas tank at least half full at all times. Also, use gas line antifreeze with isopropyl. It's compatible with today's computer controls and fuel injection systems. I suggest you use gas line antifreeze at least twice a week during the extremely cold weather if you drive a lot.
* Frozen windshield wipers: Snow and ice often settle at the base of the windshield, binding the wiper blades. Some of you think you can clear the windshield of snow and ice by turning on the wipers. Nothing could be further from the truth! The wiper system was designed to clear the weather elements from your windshield as you are driving. It cannot remove the glacier formed at the base of your windshield! A list of potential consequences of overtaxing the wiper system:
* burning up the wiper motor
* stripping out the wiper arms
* damaging the wiper transmission
* overheating the wiper motor wiring harness, causing an electrical short or fire
Avoid trouble! Clear the wipers of all ice and snow before turning them on. Remember, they are called windshield wipers, not windshield plows!
* Frozen door locks and windows: The window in your door has a rubber gasket at its base to prevent water from travelling down into the door. Unfortunately, on most cars this gasket is either rotted away or maladjusted. If water gets down into the door, it will freeze the lock linkage and window regulators. The only fix is to either replace or adjust the gasket. Forcing frozen windows and locks will result in damage to parts and major repairs, relieving you of hard-earned money. Lock de-icer is designed to defrost the keyhole, not the inside of the door!
* A word about diesel powered vehicles: Diesel engines rely on high compression, high cranking speeds, and glow plugs to generate combustion within the cylinders for cold starting. In addition, when subjected to extreme cold, diesel fuel turns to the consistency of "Jell-O," making it next to impossible to flow. There are a few things you can do to make sure your diesel powered vehicle starts in cold temperatures.
* Install an engine block or oil dipstick heater to keep the oil warm. Cold oil makes for heavy oil, which slows engine-cranking speed, making it hard to start the engine.
* Use a cold weather fuel conditioner (stabilizer) to keep the fuel in a liquid state so that it will flow freely when it gets cold.
* Install a battery blanket on the batteries. This will keep the batteries from freezing up, resulting in low cranking power.
Phew! That should do it! Now you're ready to conquer uncharted lands to the north!
'Til next time...Keep Rollin'
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 With over 27 years in the automotive industry and nearly a decade in automotive talk radio, Tom Torbjornsen makes learning about cars easy with his personal manner, his expert advice, and his high energy and entertaining style. Tom has the unique gift of simplifying the complex and tearing down the technical, meeting you at your level of understanding. You will be encouraged as you gain the confidence to deal with problems related to the second most expensive purchase you will make in a lifetime your automobile.
Email Tom
Click here to visit the America's Car Show website
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