| Winterizing Your VehicleWay up here in South Dakota, | | | | automotive mechanics have been stuck on the side of |
| where the snow flurries usually start before Halloween, | | | | the road in the breakdown lane. So you need to |
| most of us know to actually winterize our cars and | | | | prepare for such emergencies. And although our |
| trucks for the cold weather. But just what does it | | | | winter weather conditions may be more severe than |
| mean to winterize your vehicle? Can a mechanic | | | | yours, they still may well apply as you find yourself in |
| actually do this for you? | | | | unfamiliar territory when on even a short trip for an |
| What winterizing means for your vehicle: | | | | extended holiday. |
| Even if you don't enjoy severe seasonal weather | | | | Therefore, we recomend that you pack in your trunk: |
| changes such as we have throughout the year, | | | | * An ice scraper and snow brush. |
| winterizing your car or truck is a good and healthy | | | | * A roadside emergency kit consisting of: |
| practice to keep your vehicle in good shape and help it | | | | - 3 road flares and/or 3 triangle reflectors. |
| cope with changing weather conditions. Afterall, even if | | | | - A warm (heavy wool or space-age) blanket. |
| you don't freeze to death every winter, keeping your | | | | - A Flashlight (shake-to-light, wind-up, rechargeable or |
| auto well maintained can help you maintain your vehicle | | | | with good batteries). |
| at regularly scheduled intervals. | | | | - Candles and matches (or lighter). |
| This procedure involves: | | | | - A small First-Aid kit. |
| * Changing your car's coolant fluids (often referred to | | | | * A cell phone. |
| as anti-freeze). | | | | - The cell phone's DC power adapter for the car. |
| * Changing your motor oil and oil filter. | | | | * A large (20 to 40 pound) bag of sand or salt. |
| * Changing your fuel filter. | | | | * A small folding shovel. |
| * Changing your car's paper air filter or maintaining your | | | | * Battery jumpstart cables or portable booster. |
| K&N or other foam air filter. | | | | * A can of Fix-A-Flat or a portable air compressor. |
| * Changing your windshield washer fluid (replacing it | | | | * Insulated coveralls. |
| with special winterized washer fluid). | | | | * Insulated gloves. |
| * Changing your regular drive tires to snow tires or | | | | * An emergency meal of canned goods (or possibly a |
| checking your all-season tires for good tread depth | | | | few). |
| and rotating them. | | | | If you are mechanically inclined, you would probably |
| * Lubricating your drive train & other under-chassis | | | | also want to include at least a small mechanic's tool |
| moving parts (on older vehicles). | | | | set. Remember to use metric tools for most any car |
| * Older cars may also require a tune-up. | | | | or truck built around or after 1987. |
| * You should also replace the spark plugs and wires, | | | | While fair weather states may scoff at these |
| periodically. | | | | measures, these are not extreme, especially if you |
| Whether you have your car/truck winterized by a | | | | ever drive to or through any cold weather areas. If I |
| trained mechanic, your next door neighbor, or do it | | | | lived in Alaska I would also include tire chains, a |
| yourself, by following a seasonal schedule of | | | | snowmoblie suit, a pair of mutlucks and a couple pair |
| maintainance for your vehicle (in both summer and | | | | of snowshoes in the trunk, just in case. Also |
| winter) you extend its life and enhance it's | | | | remember that global warming is a real phenomena |
| performance. | | | | that produces surprising weather conditions to each |
| What winterizing means for you: | | | | extreme, and it is only getting worse. |
| Winterizing your vehicle does not protect you in the | | | | Being surprised is fine, but be prepared for it, anyway. It |
| case of an actual roadside breakdown. Even the finest | | | | will be easier to get through it, then. |