Why do we hear so much about Winterizing? Does a car really need to get ready for winter when it's made of metal, plastic, rubber, and various fluids? Yes, and no. For our industry things change seasonally for the most part, and that is pretty perfect for vehicle maintenance.
First off, no, the metal in your vehicle doesn't need to winterized, assuming that the manufacturing process went properly. Plastic can become brittle so that's something to go easy on, but nothing really needs to be done. Rubber, well, we hope people put the right tires on for the winter and summer (there's nothing quite like the sound of studded tires on a scorching August day, please remember to change between the seasons).
But the fluids! Ah yes, something we know a bit about. Most of your vehicles fluids are made for cold weather. However, if the fluids are old, and you've driven a lot during the warmer months, fluids can break down losing their additives. That's when winter can harm your vehicle.
For your motor oil we always recommend synthetic because our climate stays in the “optimum” driving conditions for about 3.6 days per year. Synthetic performs the best in +30° and -30°.
Changing it when the seasons change is the best way of making sure the additives, waxes, cleaning agents, etc., do what they need to.
Coolant, also known as anti-freeze, is important to monitor during extreme weather fluctuations. It can break down and lose its potency, potentially only working to -10°, which isn't ideal for the days it goes to -20°. We check that!
Windshield washer fluid is perhaps the cheapest fluid in your car, but is the most important to change for summer and winter. Summer formula is water with detergents for getting bug guts off. Winter formula has alcohol in it to prevent it from freezing, which can lead to cracked and leaking reservoirs.
Transmission fluids, power steering fluids, brake fluids, and transfer case and differential fluids should all be rated for all weather, but again, the older the fluid the less it's doing for you. If you don't know when you last had any of those changed, we can check them!
Come by Lubrication Station to help your vehicle get through the cold weather. We check as much as we can on a car and only recommend what is actually needed.
We also have coffee and hot chocolate for your car's passengers to survive the winter.
Jerry
(306) 249-5823, (306) 956-3278. www.lubestation.ca
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