Making Your Car More Comfortable

Making Your Car More Comfortable

Three Things You Need To Do To Prepare Your Car For Winter

Rodney Torres

Now that autumn is right around the corner, it's time to start thinking of ways to prepare for colder temperatures, shorter days, and possible storm activity. Getting stuck in a storm while driving is stressful and potentially dangerous. Following are three things you need to do to make sure that your vehicle is ready for the challenges of winter driving. 

Pack an Emergency Kit

Although you should avoid driving in dangerous winter conditions such as heavy snowfall and ice, there may be times when you have no choice. For instance, if a sudden storm blows in while you're at work or otherwise out of the house, you're probably going to have to get in your car and drive home at some point during the day. If you have children, you may be required to pick them up at school if the district has decided to cancel bus service due to hazardous road conditions. Packing an emergency kit to keep in your vehicle will help keep you and your passengers safe in the event that you become stranded in your vehicle as a result of adverse road conditions. Here's the basics of what you should include in your emergency kit:

A change of clothing for every person in your family

  • Warm blankets
  • Bottled water 
  • Rain ponchos
  • A basic first aid kit
  • High energy snacks
  • Kitty litter for added traction

You should also have an all-season roadside emergency kit in your vehicle all 365 days of the year that contains jumper cables, flashlights and batteries, a tire-changing kit, and flares. 

Get Your Oil Changed 

Using winter weight oil is important for those living in areas where seasonal temperatures get cold. Oil tends to thicken as temperatures drop, and running thick oil through engines results in damage. In order to keep your engine healthy, you'll need to switch to an oil designed for use in winter -- look for a motor oil that features a "W" in the oil rating. However, keep in mind that different engines have different motor oil requirements, and just picking out any old winter-grade oil off the shelf may not meet the individual needs of your particular vehicle. Play it safe and always use the type of oil specified in your vehicle owner's manual. If you no longer have the owner's manual, ask your local mechanic for his recommendation.

Also, keep in mind that even if you live in an area where seasonal temperatures never fall below freezing, having your oil changed on a regular basis is still necessary to keep your car in optimal shape. Although the oil itself doesn't experience degradation, the additives in motor oil, such as detergent and anti-foaming agents, wear out over time.

It's also important to not neglect to have your vehicle's oil filter changed on a regular basis -- this little apparatus works hard to keep contaminants out of your engine, and it can't do its job if it becomes too clogged. Contact a business like PDR Automotive Inc to schedule your oil changes.

Have Your Battery Serviced

Vehicle electrical systems work harder during cold weather, so make sure your battery is up to the task by having it professionally serviced before seasonal cold takes hold. The last thing you need on a cold winter night when you're trying to get home is for your car's electrical system to malfunction. If your battery is four years old or older, it's probably time to err on the side of caution and have it replaced so that you don't get any unpleasant surprises this winter.

Your local mechanic's shop can provide you with customized information on getting your car ready for the winter to ensure the optimal safety of you and your passengers. 


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About Me
Making Your Car More Comfortable

Do you spend a considerable amount of time in your automobile? Perhaps, you’re a traveling salesman. Or, you might be the busy parent of two kids who participate on numerous sports teams. Regardless of the reason you spend a lot of time in your vehicle, you might desperately desire to make it more comfortable. Think about investing in a neck pillow. You might also want to buy soft car seat covers to sit on. Purchasing a fragrant air freshener for your car is a great idea. On this blog, I hope you will discover additional, ingenious ways to make your automobile more comfortable to ride in for extended periods of time. Enjoy!

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