Living in Chesterton, Indiana has its advantages. We’ve got small-town charm and plenty to do. We also see all four seasons, with stunning springs and falls, warm summers, and snowy winters. Our temperatures drop into the 20s and 30s during the winter months, and we get about 40 inches of rain and 39 inches of snow each year. Is your car ready to drive in these conditions? Cergizan’s Auto and Truck Repair can make sure it is with fall preventative maintenance now.
Antifreeze
Antifreeze is important in icy conditions because it prevents the radiator tubes from freezing until they cannot circulate coolant. In warm weather, steam escapes from an overheating engine. Steam does not escape from a frozen radiator until it’s too late. Usually, the first warning sign is total engine failure.
Battery
Your car’s battery uses a chemical reaction to produce power. When the outdoor temperatures reach freezing, 32 degrees F, the chemical reaction slows down. This decreases your battery’s power output by as much as 30 percent, which is why you end up fighting hard starts or a dead battery in the winter.
Fuel
Heat causes evaporation which makes winter a tough time for your automobile’s gasoline. Gas powers your engine in part by vaporizing, but when it’s freezing outside, your fuel will not vaporize as much. This can make a cold start in the morning nearly impossible without ether to evaporate in the engine.
Oil
You know how honey is sticky and gooey at room or cold temperatures but when you heat it up it thins out? The same holds true for your oil. Conventional motor oil thickens into a gooey mess in freezing weather, which means it cannot coat your engine parts until it heats up, thins out, and circulates better.
Tires
As we said above, we get 40 inches of rain and 39 inches of snow annually. Do your tires have enough tread to prevent hydroplaning and sliding? Tire tread works in two ways: The grooves funnel water through the tires and the sipes cut through the ice and snow to keep your wheels on the road.
Windshield
Winter weather can be brutal on your windshield. You rely on your defroster, de-icing windshield washer fluid, and your windshield wiper blades to ensure you can see in even the worst storm conditions. Autumn is the perfect time to check the heater core, washer fluid, and wiper blades.
Is your car or truck ready for winter? Call Cergizan’s Auto and Truck Repair in Chesterton, IN, to schedule an appointment for preventative maintenance.