Winter Car care tips I just learned.

I just read a great article in our local paper about winter car care. I had no idea about some of this stuff, so I learned a bit more and thought I would share. For most of you, snow is a fleeting treat that you get to enjoy once or twice a year, and minus 10 is freaky cold. You can read if you want - it doesn't hurt to learn. For the few of you who also live in areas that have winter, I hope you can learn something new too! My content is in italics. Everything else is from CarJunky.com

. A recent survey conducted by Uniroyal found that most drivers have tires that are under inflated. A drop in outside temperature will mean a drop in the air pressure (PSI - pounds per square inch) in your tires. For every 5°C of temperature drop, tire pressure goes down by approximately one pound. Under inflation affects handling and can also cause your tires to wear faster. Check your air pressure monthly and maintain pressure at the vehicle manufacturer's recommended level, found in your owner's manual or inside the doorjamb.

Current RAC statistics show 23% of Canadian motorists drive with at least one tire that is under-inflated by 20% or more, resulting in more than 640 million litres of fuel being needlessly consumed. No wonder people are concerned - carbon dioxide spewing from vehicles is the single greatest cause of greenhouse gas emissions. By measuring your tires' pressure once a month, and maintaining proper tire inflation, you could save two weeks worth of gas a year, the cost of one or two sets of tires over the lifetime of your vehicle, reduce harmful emissions, and increase the safety of your vehicle. Proper tire care is simple and easy. Measure tire pressure monthly, including the spare, using a good-quality tire pressure gauge. You can't tell if your tires are properly inflated just by looking at them. If you're not sure how to do it, ask someone to help you.

. Check your vehicle's battery, fluid levels, defrosters and wipers to ensure that everything is in working order. Cold weather is especially hard on batteries. Have your battery checked to be sure all connections are clean and tight. Also, make sure your wipers are turned off when you start your car. They can freeze to the windshield overnight, and if they are turned on before you have cleared your windshield, the rubber wiper can be torn or damaged. Also, the drive motor for the wipers can be damaged if they are stuck so hard they can't move.

. Always keep the gas tank at least half-full to prepare for unexpected delays. Driving off the top half of your tank also improves mileage in the winter. This is because it allows for less condensation to form in your tank. It also reduces the amount of water that can get into your fuel line. It is a good idea to add a fuel antifreeze/conditioner once a month. These little bottles only cost about a dollar. It removes the condensation and water from you fuel line and improves mileage.
. Use a block heater in winter when the temperature drops to -20°C. A block heater keeps your engine oil and coolant warm, which makes the vehicle easier to start and can increase winter fuel economy by as much as 10 percent. (Use a timer to switch on the block heater one or two hours before you plan to drive). These things guzzle the electricity, so do use a timer. Your utility bill, and the Earth will thank you.

. Visibility is crucial when driving in inclement conditions. Scrape ice and snow from every window and from exterior rear view mirrors. Also, brush snow off the hood, roof, trunk, turn signals, lights and fender walls of your vehicle. When you stop to fill up your gas, make sure you clean off your brake lights and headlights (and license plate). Blown snow and road grime spray can make your lights almost useless. This can be very dangerous at night as others can't see you, and you can't see that great big Moose that is staring you down!
. In case of emergency, stock your vehicle with a first-aid kit, flashlight -make sure your batteries are fully charged, blankets, jumper cables, warm clothes and gloves, food, bottled water, a bag of abrasive material (such as sand, salt or clay-based cat-litter) small shovel, a cell phone (and a prayer for cell service when you need it)
Thanks to CarJunky.com for much of this content. Also thanks to our local paper for running a column called "your neighborhood mechanic".

http://news.carjunky.com/car_maintenance/car-care-tips-cold-months-cde779.shtml