Saturday 17 December 2011
Here are some things I highly recommend motorists make sure they do this winter:
1. Turn on your headlights!
Newer cars today have ultra-bright dash lights that make many drivers unaware that their headlights are not on as it's getting dark out. 2006+ Honda Civic owners are notorious for this. BE AWARE, and turn on your lights! You want to be seen from front and from back, particularly on foggy mornings, rainfall, snowfall, dusk, dawn, or if in any doubt, turn 'em on for extra safety.
2. Brush and scrape snow/ice off ALL your windows and lights!
Ever see those cars whose headlights, brake lights and turn signals you can't even see because they are covered in snow? Or those folks who don't clean their side nor rear windows, and when you confront them, they give you attitude? You might be one of those people. For the love of safety, please take the time to scrape and clean off snow on windows and lights to maximize visibility - and safety. Never forget to brush off the lights so when you signal, brake, or are in motion, you can be seen.
3. Lift your wiper blades off the windshield!
You should lift your wiper blades up if you are expecting freezing rain or a big snowfall to make it easier to brush off snow, but if in doubt, always lift up your wiper blades before you drive off to make sure they are not frozen to the glass. You want to do this so it doesn't strain the wiper motor in case the blades are frozen to the glass. Wiper motors and linkages can be expensive to replace, and such parts often are special order from the dealer only.
4. Kick your shoes/boots together to get the snow off before entering the vehicle!
This not only makes it less messy inside, but also, by preventing water and salt from getting onto your carpeting, you may also prevent the floorboards from rusting through over time. A lot of cars start rusting through to the bottom due to trapped moisture from inside and being pelted with road elements from underneath, so get some good quality floor mats, empty them if the treads fill with water, and minimize snow from getting inside by kicking your shoes together (and don't be shy to tell your family members and close friends to do so if they're riding with you). Nissan Altimas are notorious for floorboard rusting.
5. Accelerate gently after a cold start!
Newer cars today don't require 10-15 minute warm-ups. If anything, idling wastes gas and dirties the engine oil faster. When you fire up a cold engine, let it run for about 30-45 seconds, then drive off to warm up faster, but accelerate gently, like no higher than 2500 rpm per shift to let the engine and transmission gradually get to operating temps and prevent excessive wear. Once you see that coolant gauge start moving, you can start accelerating a bit faster.
6. Check fluid levels and tire pressure when adding windshield washer fluid!
I know it's usually cold, snowy and miserable when you have to add washer fluid, but while the hood is open, take advantage and also have your fluids checked, particularly your engine oil. You don't want to have low oil levels in winter, because cold starts are what causes the most engine wear, and you want enough oil and the right thickness of oil to flow better in the deep cold. You want to make sure the oil levels are right at the Full mark, and that it is clean. Change your motor oil every 6000 to 8000 km using a high-quality engine oil and oil filters from the dealer, or a premium aftermarket brand like Wix and Purolator. I personally am not a fan of the orange Fram brand nor the cheapie Defense brands that most independent shops use, because the construction is shoddy and the filtering volume is low compared to better brands.
Drive On....
1. Turn on your headlights!
Newer cars today have ultra-bright dash lights that make many drivers unaware that their headlights are not on as it's getting dark out. 2006+ Honda Civic owners are notorious for this. BE AWARE, and turn on your lights! You want to be seen from front and from back, particularly on foggy mornings, rainfall, snowfall, dusk, dawn, or if in any doubt, turn 'em on for extra safety.
2. Brush and scrape snow/ice off ALL your windows and lights!
Ever see those cars whose headlights, brake lights and turn signals you can't even see because they are covered in snow? Or those folks who don't clean their side nor rear windows, and when you confront them, they give you attitude? You might be one of those people. For the love of safety, please take the time to scrape and clean off snow on windows and lights to maximize visibility - and safety. Never forget to brush off the lights so when you signal, brake, or are in motion, you can be seen.
3. Lift your wiper blades off the windshield!
You should lift your wiper blades up if you are expecting freezing rain or a big snowfall to make it easier to brush off snow, but if in doubt, always lift up your wiper blades before you drive off to make sure they are not frozen to the glass. You want to do this so it doesn't strain the wiper motor in case the blades are frozen to the glass. Wiper motors and linkages can be expensive to replace, and such parts often are special order from the dealer only.
4. Kick your shoes/boots together to get the snow off before entering the vehicle!
This not only makes it less messy inside, but also, by preventing water and salt from getting onto your carpeting, you may also prevent the floorboards from rusting through over time. A lot of cars start rusting through to the bottom due to trapped moisture from inside and being pelted with road elements from underneath, so get some good quality floor mats, empty them if the treads fill with water, and minimize snow from getting inside by kicking your shoes together (and don't be shy to tell your family members and close friends to do so if they're riding with you). Nissan Altimas are notorious for floorboard rusting.
5. Accelerate gently after a cold start!
Newer cars today don't require 10-15 minute warm-ups. If anything, idling wastes gas and dirties the engine oil faster. When you fire up a cold engine, let it run for about 30-45 seconds, then drive off to warm up faster, but accelerate gently, like no higher than 2500 rpm per shift to let the engine and transmission gradually get to operating temps and prevent excessive wear. Once you see that coolant gauge start moving, you can start accelerating a bit faster.
6. Check fluid levels and tire pressure when adding windshield washer fluid!
I know it's usually cold, snowy and miserable when you have to add washer fluid, but while the hood is open, take advantage and also have your fluids checked, particularly your engine oil. You don't want to have low oil levels in winter, because cold starts are what causes the most engine wear, and you want enough oil and the right thickness of oil to flow better in the deep cold. You want to make sure the oil levels are right at the Full mark, and that it is clean. Change your motor oil every 6000 to 8000 km using a high-quality engine oil and oil filters from the dealer, or a premium aftermarket brand like Wix and Purolator. I personally am not a fan of the orange Fram brand nor the cheapie Defense brands that most independent shops use, because the construction is shoddy and the filtering volume is low compared to better brands.
Drive On....
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