Winter is officially on the way, whether it feels like it outside or not at the moment. Don’t let unusually warm weather trick you into letting your guard down...cold weather is just around the corner. Here is your winter preparation guide, from your trusted technicians at Jim Van Dyke in Washington CH.

Tires

Make sure your tires are in good shape; a tire with worn out tread may feel fine on warm pavement, but the second a snowflake hits the ground you may discover that your tires aren’t quite up to par. Consider going with an all-weather tire option if you haven’t already; summer tires are called that for a reason. Make sure your tires aren’t dry rotted or damaged as well, as changing a flat in the bitter cold is never an experience anyone looks forward to. Temperature drops also affect tire pressure, so keep an eye on yours and make sure you keep your tires correctly inflated.

Wipers

Good wiper blades always come in handy during winter months. If yours are ready to be replaced, get it done before it’s too late. There are special wiper blades for winter use that tend to be a bit more durable and resistant to ice, so you might want to think about trying a pair of those this season. Make sure to lift your wipers away from the windshield if there's a chance of ice that night, and if they do get frozen to the windshield, don’t pull them off. Wait for the window to defrost, spray them with de-icer, or hit the edges with your ice scraper if you have to so you don’t damage the blade.  Have your windshield washer fluid replaced with a fluid with added de-icer, you’ll be glad you did when you need it.

Cooling system

Have your antifreeze checked to make sure it’s still good...old antifreeze may turn to ice in cold temperatures, and will cause your car to overheat or worse. Be sure to check the coolant level as well, some vehicles will cool alright with low coolant but your heater won’t work nearly as well.

Winter weather items

It’s a good idea to keep de-icer and a scraper in your car, so you don’t find yourself chiseling away at a sheet of ice with your debit card while trying to get to work in the morning. If you keep your car outside in the open, it’s also a good idea to have de-icer on hand outside of the car, so you can unfreeze frozen locks and door handles. It never hurts to keep gloves and a blanket in the car either, you never know when you might need them.

It is also generally a good idea to keep your car in good repair, especially in the winter. A breakdown on the way to the grocery store isn’t so bad when it’s a sunny 70 degree day, but it suddenly becomes a lot less manageable on a cold winter night. Keep you and your car safe, and ease the stress of winter driving by using this guide. If anything on your vehicle needs attention, don’t hesitate to give us a shout or stop by Jim Van Dyke and let one of our technicians take a look. We’ll make sure you are road ready this winter season.

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Thank you for visiting Jim Van Dyke's Automotive Center in Washington Court House, OH. Count on our automotive repair technicians to keep your car, truck, suv, or van on the roads longer and safer.

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