| If you are lucky enough to live in a warm climate | | | | good idea to check. Make sure the water level is |
| you may not have to worry about this, but for | | | | filled correctly and if it needs more use distilled |
| many winterizing your car is essential. Not getting | | | | water to level it off. Since the battery can lose its |
| ready for winter weather puts you at risk | | | | charge in cold weather, you may want to get a |
| unnecessarily. The good thing is that these steps | | | | plug-in charger. With this you plug it in at night and |
| take almost no time at all and are not going to be | | | | attach it to your battery. In the morning you will |
| to hard on your wallet.Here are some common | | | | be assured of a charged battery. This can make |
| sense ways to prepare you for cold | | | | the difference between getting to work on time |
| weather:Check your Anti-Freeze. One of the | | | | or not. Portable versions are also available which |
| most important things you can do is check your | | | | can be kept in the car as you travel. You will then |
| Anti-freeze. You should have your anti-freeze | | | | be able to jump the battery if it does not have |
| tested at least 2 times a year. You will probably | | | | enough power to get anywhere on its own.Oil. |
| want to change it at least every 30,000 miles or | | | | You can switch to lighter oil in the bitter cold |
| every 2 years. This keeps it at peak | | | | months. This will offer quicker lubrication of the |
| performance and prevents it from breaking down. | | | | engine parts during colder periods.Tires. Tires are |
| Usually you will want to have it diluted with water. | | | | important also. Some tires are all weather and |
| A 50/50 mix is the normal ratio but the simple | | | | give you decent traction in the snow. For those |
| directions on your specific brand of anti-freeze will | | | | that are not you may either want to switch to all |
| tell you exactly what the proper mix is.Pressure | | | | weather tires or get specially made snow tires. |
| Check for Leaks. When you change your | | | | These have better traction but are not made for |
| anti-freeze you may want to pressure check the | | | | prolonged normal road use. Another option is |
| system. This will wash away any impurities, | | | | attaching snow chains to tires for increased |
| mineral deposits and rust that may eventually clog | | | | traction.Windshield Blades. Having proper windshield |
| the system. While in there, check for any visible | | | | wiper blades can also save you a lot of heartache |
| leaks around the hoses and clamps. You will also | | | | as well. These should be changed as you change |
| want to make sure the belts are tight and not | | | | your oil. Being able to see in a snowstorm is just |
| frayed. One main reason you want to do this is | | | | as important as having your car start. Proper |
| because there is belt that drives the water pump. | | | | visibility is key to accident avoidance.Items you |
| If the belt is not circulating it does not matter | | | | should have in the car as well to winterize it are: |
| how new or unclogged your system is because | | | | gloves, deicer, ice scraper, anti-freeze, windshield |
| you will have problems. Having the cooling system | | | | washer fluid (to de-ice as you drive), salt or sand, |
| checked regularly can save a lot of heartache in | | | | old rug for tire traction, shovel, car cover (to |
| the future and prevent you from walking in the | | | | prevent icing) cell phone (you might need to call |
| snow instead of driving in it.Check the Battery. | | | | for help), flashlight and extra wiper blades.All of |
| Another important part to check is the battery. | | | | these preventative measures are easy and not |
| Cold weather sucks the life right out of a car | | | | expensive compared to the time and money you |
| battery. The performance of the battery is | | | | will spend fixing problems instead of avoiding |
| decreased - a lot. Fortunately you can have your | | | | them.Visit - For A Reliable Automobile Insurance |
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| electrical system tested. If the battery is over 3 | | | | insurance marketplace gives an opportunity to |
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