AYN Advice

Winter Tune-up

Well boys and girls it’s that time again, the temperature is dropping. Time to prepare your vehicle for winter.

Here are Mark’s Top 10 Things To Do before you get the winter blues.

1. Change motor oil to winter oil.
5W30 is thinner and will make start up easier on those cold winter mornings.

2. Have anti-freeze or coolant checked to make sure it is good for -34C.
Coolant that is too weak or too strong can cause you grief. If you have not had your cooling system flushed in the last 2 years, it might be a good time to do so now and at the same time have your thermostat replaced. After all, we all want great heat.

3. How is your battery?
After a hot summer it is a good idea to have it checked. A strong battery makes starting easy on those cold mornings.

4. Ignition
Worn ignition parts will make it more difficult to start so it may be a good idea to have them inspected.

5. Tires
Do you drive on winter tires? No? Why not?
Did you know that one winter on an all-season tire will wear 1/3 of your brand new all-season and the freezing point of an all-season is minus 15C. A winter tire’s freezing point is minus 45C. If your tire freezes you have little control. With winter tires your braking distance is reduced and your safety is increased plus the fact that you will not get stuck in a snow bank.

6. Wiper Blades and Wiper System
Make sure your wiper blades and wiper system is working properly, washer fluid is topped up and always clean. Make sure all snow and ice is cleared from wiper arms other wise you may burn the motor or damage the wiper linkages.

7. Tune-up
A well tuned-up car meaning spark plugs, distributor cap, rotor, ignition wires, clean air filter, gas filter will make start-up easier on those cold winter mornings.

8. Washer Fluid
If you are going to purchase washer fluid, purchase minus 40C so you will not have any problems while driving on the highway. Remember the wind chill factor.

9. Aquapel
At Beaconsfield Auto we offer a product called Aquapel that is put on your windshield which will repel water, dirt and salt and help keep ice from freezing on your windshield. A great idea for winter.

10. Rustblock
Most importantly, now that winter is near, Transport Quebec will be dumping once again tons of road salt on our roads. Is your car protected? A car’s mechanical components are made better today; however, not so for the car’s body.

Safe Motoring,

Mark