Cold weather can cause havoc with your vehicle, affecting everything from the engine down to the tires. The risk grows even higher during a cold snap, as temperatures can plummet overnight and endanger your morning commute.
in addition to staying on top of the weather forecast. here are some other things you can do to prepare and protect your vehicle for winter weather:
- Check the battery regularly. Cold temperatures drain your battery much quicker than high temperatures, so make sure that the terminals and cables are connected and free of corrosion. Coating the terminals with automotive grease or petroleum jelly can help prevent deposits from forming. If your battery casing looks like it might be cracked or the battery appears swollen, visit our Service Center and have it looked at as soon as possible.
- Keep your tires inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended PSI. Cold weather drops the tire pressure, which can negatively affect your handling and stopping ability.
- Check your engine oil regularly, and change it as needed. Low temperatures will thicken the oil, interfering with its ability to move through the engine. In extreme cases, this could lead to a breakdown and extremely expensive repairs.
- Visually inspect the belts, hoses, wipers and windshield regularly.Belts and hoses are much more likely to get brittle and break in winter, while wipers need to be in ideal condition to fully remove snow and ice. If your windshield has any cracks or chips, they’re prone to getting worse in winter conditions.
- Keep the gas tank full as often as possible.While it’s a pain, keeping a tank half-full or more helps avoid gas-line freeze-ups. Every time you stop to fill up, take a moment and examine the coolant level. It can ruin your engine if you run low on coolant (a.k.a., antifreeze) in winter.
- Always carry an emergency kit in the vehicle. Since you can’t predict breaking down or getting stranded, preparing ahead can be a life-saving move.
Our showroom at 3195 Hempstead Turnpike in Levittown, NY, proudly serves Ford drivers from the Levittown, Garden City, Lindenhurst, Massapequa, Hicksville and all of Long Island.