WINTER MAINTENANCE TIPS

When ice covers the roads and snow falls, summer or all-season tires will have very little grip on any surface, making your vehicle prone to skidding. Winter tires are made of compounds that don’t stiffen at low temperatures, which keeps them flexible with better road grip. The depth and patterns on their treads are designed to expel snow and water. Winter tires also have more biting edges and greater sipe densities to maximize traction on ice.

Before the first storm of the season hits, be prepared by swapping out your current tires with winter versions.

Wiper blades generally last only about six months. If your blades are leaving streaks or missing much of your windshield, then you need to replace them. Inspect your blades regularly. If they’re showing breaks or tears, then they need replacing.

Look for winter wiper blades, which are designed for extremely cold conditions. They have few moving parts that can freeze and break at low temperatures. And their rubbers is strong enough to move snow and ice while resisting buildup.

When you’re in heavy traffic surrounded by a raging blizzard, the last thing you want to happen is for your battery to die. Not only will you cause a traffic jam, but you could experience life-threatening conditions from the cold. A battery that works well at 80 degrees F contains only half its power at zero degrees F.

To prevent problems, inspect your battery at least once before winter and once during the season.

• For a maintenance-free battery, you can check that the window at the top of the battery shows a full charge.

• For a conventional battery, you’ll need to remove the plastic caps on top to monitor the fluid level.

If you want to keep your hands clean, take your vehicle into the Service Department at Buchanan Automotive. Our factory-vetted auto techs can test your battery. If your battery is more than five years old, then replace it with the latest model.

The vital fluid that lubricates your engine gets thicker as temperatures drop, making it harder for your engine to function. Your owner’s manual can reveal what type of oil to use. For the winter, you need one with a “W” in the viscosity index, which means the oil has been formulated for the cold season. Recommended formulas include 5W-20, 5W-30, and 10W-30. They keep flowing at lower temperatures but also work year-round.

Create an emergency kit.

For those times when your vehicle breaks down and you have to wait for help to arrive, it’s handy to have an emergency kit on hand. You can make one yourself by putting the following items in a small backpack that you can take with you when you have to leave your car.

• Extra winter gear like mittens, hats, socks, and blankets to supplement what you’re wearing if you have to leave your car for help.

• Snow brush and ice scraper to remove ice and snow from your windshield and windows.

• Folding shovel to dig snow away from your tires.

• Bottled water and snacks to keep you satisfied when you have to wait for a while.

• Flashlight and extra batteries to light up the darker days.

• Jumper cables to restart a dead battery.

• Bag of sand or kitty litter that you can spread under your tires for traction.

• Emergency warning devices such as reflective warning triangles or road flares.

• Portable battery to power up your smartphone if it runs out of juice.

You won’t have much daylight during the winter months, especially when you drive home from work at night. Check that all your exterior lights are in good working order and delivering the brightest illumination possible.

If you discover a burned-out bulb, you can typically replace it on your own. But you can also bring it to our Service Department and have us do it. Before you drive away from home, clear any ice and snow from all your exterior lights.