Cold weather can put a damper on your car if you do not maintain it! When temperatures plummet car problems begin. You will want to make sure your battery, tires, car’s fluids, heaters, defrosters, and wipers are all in good condition. Out of all your car parts, these tend to have the most problems during the colder seasons. You will want to take care of these problems before they become serious. You do not want to put yourself in danger on the road or be stuck somewhere when it is extremely cold out.
How Your Car Reacts To Cold Weather
Cars parts do not always react great to cold weather. Here are the parts that are mainly affected by cold weather:
Tires lose their grip to the road as temperatures drop. It is recommended to drive more careful during the winter and use your brakes sooner when coming to a halt than you usually would (especially if roads get icy in the early mornings, this can even happen in Florida). Take a look at your tire tread and replace your tires if they look too worn out. Worn out tires are another safety hazard when driving and will not grip the road as well as newer ones. You should get them replaced if this is the case, especially in the winter. You do not want to fly off the road!
As it gets cold out tire pressure is another thing you should keep an eye on. Tires lose air from the temperature dropping, so you want to make sure your tire pressure is good. Follow your car manufacturers recommendations for how much to fill up your tire. You will want to make sure you have enough air in your tires or else you will start burning more gas. In result, more money will be coming out of your wallet. Another thing to keep in mind is tire pressure lights notifications in your car pop up when the temperature fluctuates so it is good to be aware of this when it happens. It does not always mean that your tires are in trouble but it is good to take a look at your tires on a daily basis to make sure they are not low.
Older car batteries tend to fail when it gets colder outside. This is because the cold weather puts a strain on the battery’s voltage which causes your car to have a hard time starting. It important to stay on top of your battery and you should change it if it is old. Batteries that are three or four years old should be replaced during the colder months. Parking your car in your garage will also help to prolong your battery’s lifespan.
Car fluids (oil, antifreeze, power steering, brake, and transmission oil) do not do great in colder months and will usually thicken up. If these fluids thicken up they can cause your car to not function properly. Cars’ parts need fluids to run so it is good to get them topped off when winter comes in and multiple times throughout the year. Synthetic oil is great to use in the winter because it does not thicken up as much. Switch conventional oil with synthetic to be extra cautious. Doing this switch can make it easier on your engine and help it heat up faster.
Belts and hoses can also be damaged or become a more serious problem in colder months. Now is the time to get your car’s belts and hoses checked for cracks or signs of damage, and replace. This can keep your car from breaking down in the winter.
Windshield and wipers are also affected by cold weather. Frost can build up on the windshield even in Florida. If this happens do not pour hot water on the windshield. It can cause a crack in the windshield. Too much heat from your car’s defroster could also cause a crack in your windshield. Washer solvent can solve this problem and help melt the frost away. Windshield wipers are likely to be damaged by frost as well. You will need to change your windshield wiper blades in the winter and within six months to a year.
Checklist For Your Car This Winter
Follow this checklist for your car during the winter months:
1. Look over your owner’s manual and view the recommendations for when you should service your car.
2. Make sure your car’s performance is in good condition – look out for hard starts, rough idling, stalling, or diminished power.
3. Get your cooling system cleaned, flushed, and filled up with antifreeze.
4. Get your all your fluids checked.
5. Get your tread and tire pressure inspected.
6. Get the battery and charging system looked at.
7. Get heaters, defrosters, and wipers checked.
8. Make sure you have these in your car: gloves, ice scraper, blanket, jumper cables, and a first-aid kit.
Services Jiffy Lube Offers
Jiffy Lube Signature Service® Oil Change Sarasota is a great service to get for prepping your car for winter. It is not just an oil change; it is preventive maintenance to help keep your vehicle running right. It includes:
- Replacing the motor oil with up to five quarts of quality oil.
- Replacing the oil filter.
- Checking and topping off vital fluids: transmission/transaxle fluid, differential fluid, power steering fluid, windshield washer fluid, battery water (excluding sealed batteries).
- Checking your tire pressure.
- Visually inspecting: antifreeze levels, engine air filtration system, serpentine belts, brake fluid level in transparent reservoirs, wiper blades, and exterior lights.
Other services Jiffy Lube Offers:
- Oil change services (conventional, high mileage, synthetic)
- Air conditioning services
- Air filtration services
- Battery maintenance and replacement services
- Brake services
- Cooling system services
- Drivetrain services (Sarasota car tune up)
- Engine services
- Fuel system cleaning services
- Emission and inspection
- Tire services
- Transmission services
- Windshield services
Why You Should Go To Jiffy Lube Sarasota
Jiffy Lube Sarasota services will make sure your vehicle is winter ready. They can also offer you tips for your car as winter moves in. Jiffy Lube® highly trained technicians are aware of how colder temperatures can affect cars and their performance. They know which problems usually occur, what to look for, and how to properly take care of your car in colder months. It is important to have your car checked when colder weather hits and also have regular maintenance check-ups in general. Regular maintenance check-ups can help improve your gasoline mileage, reduce pollution, and catch minor problems before they become big headaches! Get your car serviced at your neighborhood Jiffy Lube® to ensure that your car gets through the cold season!
