Car News Articles 
 Alternative Fuel Vehicles
 Automotive Articles
 Car Buying Tips
 Car Insurance Articles
 Car Maintenance
 Fall-Winter (77)
  Spring-Summer (43)
 Car News
 Car Racing
 Car Repair
 Car Safety
 
 Driving Economically
 Environmental Issues
 Exterior Car Care
 Garage Know How
 
 How Car Stuff Works
 Motorcycle Articles
 Road Trips
 Traveling with Kids
 Younger - Older Drivers
 
 Amsoil Synthetic Oil
 Article Archives




spacer
spacer
Car Maintenance >> Fall-Winter

Fall Into Good Car Maintenance Habits

Fall into good car maintenance habits now, and keep your car in excellent condition for years to come.


(NAPSI)-While your vehicle might have cruised through warmer weather, cold weather can set in before you realize the leaves have fallen. It's important to remember that vehicles need seasonal adjusting-if you don't want to get caught out in the cold.

"Autumn is a great time for automotive maintenance and repair," says Jim MacPherson, car care expert and automotive radio host for WTIC-AM in Connecticut. "It gives us time to repair the wear and tear and allows us to prepare for those colder days ahead. Following a simple maintenance checklist will save drivers time and money by extending the life of their vehicle and ensuring safer operation."

To keep your car in top shape and running smoothly as we transition into cooler months, here are four big tips to keep in mind:

Tires: Good Pressure, Little Wear and Rotation

Tires lose pressure every month, and more when the temperatures drop. To maintain proper pressure, check your tires monthly and make sure they're filled up to their recommended psi rating (which can be found on the driver's side door paneling, in the owner's manual or sometimes on the tires themselves).

Drivers should also check the tread on the tires regularly for wear; replace excessively worn tires. If it has been over 5,000 miles since your tires have last been rotated, it is important to do so because there's a risk of having one tire wear more significantly than the others.

Finally, if you live in a region where the temperature consistently rests around freezing during the winter months, it's a good time to start looking around for winter tires.

Oil: Switch to Synthetic

Lower temperatures can add stress on your engine. To prevent engine wear, change your oil and oil filter as specified in your manual. A switch to synthetic oil, if you're not using it already, will help your car operate more efficiently.

Synthetic motor oils, such as Mobil 1, are specifically designed to protect your engine in wide temperature ranges. For example, Mobil 1's synthetic 5W-30 flows rapidly to critical engine parts during cold start-ups, provides outstanding wear protection and keeps engines clean and running smoothly.

Cooling System: Flush and Refill

The cooling system (radiator) should be checked for leaks and low levels. Additionally, it should be flushed and refilled as recommended in the owner's manual. When checking, remember to never remove the radiator cap until the engine has thoroughly cooled.

While coolant may mostly be associated with warmer weather, a vehicle's coolant (or antifreeze) is equally important in the colder months to make sure the vehicle can withstand the temperatures. A 50/50 mix of anti-freeze and distilled water is the usual recommendation.

Full Engine Tune-up: Systems and Fluid Levels

If you haven't had your yearly-recommended basic tune-up, now's the time to have that done. Cooler weather will only make existing problems worse. A tune-up will correct engine problems such as stalling and diminished power, and will also ensure that fluid levels (for brakes, transmission, windshield washer, etc.) are topped off or replaced if needed.







Related Articles:
Winter Driving Safety: What You Need To Know
Winter Tires Save Lives And Money
Ready Your Ride For Rough Weather
Prepare For Winter Driving Before Jack Frost Arrives
Quick Fall Auto Fix-up Tips
Prepare Your Vehicle for Fall
Which Deicers Cause The Least Damage To Your Car?
Winterize Your Vehicle
Are Winter Tires On Your Winter Driving Checklist?
Make Your Winter Driving Safe Driving With These Car Care Tips
A Winter Checklist For Drivers
Fall Into Good Car Maintenance Habits
Tips for Cold Weather Driving
Prepping A Vehicle For Cold Weather
Prepare For Cold-Weather Driving: Tips For Winter Road Warriors

spacer
sdg
make image
model image
zip code


Stay Updated!


Fall-Winter
Related Articles
Seven Steps To Getting Your
Winter Driving And Tire Tips
Tips On Caring For Your
Car Winterization Secrets From A
With Tires, Pressure Can Be
Winter Driving Safety: What You
Winter Tires Save Lives And
Ready Your Ride For Rough
Prepare For Winter Driving Before
Quick Fall Auto Fix-up Tips
Prepare Your Vehicle for Fall
Which Deicers Cause The Least
Winterize Your Vehicle
Are Winter Tires On Your
Make Your Winter Driving Safe
A Winter Checklist For Drivers
Fall Into Good Car Maintenance
Tips for Cold Weather Driving
Prepping A Vehicle For Cold
Prepare For Cold-Weather Driving: Tips
spacer

Feed Button



Car Insurance Info | Newsletter | Car Classifieds | Online Car Rentals
Auto Pictures | Link To Carjunky.com



Complete List of Article RSS News Feeds


Copyright © 1999 - . CarJunky® All Rights Reserved.