Some Tips on Winterizing Your Vehicle This Fall

Fall is a great time to winterize your car for the upcoming winter months. Summer is hard on a vehicle, but winter is even worse on your car’s exterior, interior, and especially your engine.

Here are some auto maintenance services that will help protect your car from the harsh winter weather.

Replace the Wiper Blades – Experts say that you should replace your wiper blades every six months. Barring that, you should at least replace them annually. Living in Oregon, we see more than our fair share of rain, so replacing them more frequently is a good idea and does much to improve visibility, which also serves to increase your safety.

Switch to Snow Tires – For improved traction and road safety, consider switching your all-seasons or summer tires to snow tires. If you find yourself ending up in the ditch more often than average, switching to snow tires can make a world of difference.

Get Your Engine a Checkup – Bring your vehicle to a trusted mechanic to get an annual inspection on the following engine components:

• Cabin Air Filter – to improve efficiency and ensure a warm, toasty interior during your winter drives, getting your cabin air filter checked is the first step. It will also improve the quality of air in the cabin.
• Battery – nothing can ruin your day faster than a car that won’t start in the winter. Now is a great time to prevent that from happening.
• Engine Fluids – switching from summer oil weight to winter oil weight saves unnecessary damage to your engine’s moving parts.
• Antifreeze Levels – antifreeze is a critical component in ensuring that your radiator water doesn’t freeze, which is just as bad as a dead battery in the morning.
• Belts and Hoses – winter temperatures can cause belts to squeal and hoses to crack. Both should be checked prior to the winter months to ensure they don’t break down and leave you stranded on an icy road.

To schedule your fall winterizing, contact Ken Scales Automotive today.