Four Ways to Check an Old Car in Winter
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by: johnwillsam
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Word Count: 498
Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2012 Time: 3:05 AM
Winter has already come to us, and severe weather can wreak destruction on any car, but it is particularly tough on old ones. Instead of finding yourself stranded at an inconvenient time, carry out these some checks for your old car now on your own and pay a visit to your auto technician if needed.
Take a look at your belts and hoses. Plastic takes a beating in cold conditions, which can impact all of the belts and tubes in your engine part. Once more, check under the hood, ideally with a bright flashlight, and examine all the belts and hoses for cracks and other symptoms of wear. When the engine is freezing, push the rubber hoses since cracks may not be obvious otherwise. Push or pull the belts to tell if they are tight or loose. If you see any cracks items or loose belts, arrange a visit to your technician. Then begin the vehicle and let it perform when you visually inspect the belts and hoses, again trying to find signs of wear and also leakage, which can be in the form of drips.
Take a look at your engine fluids. Inspecting your coolant levels in winter is as essential as in summer. You should have a 50/50 mixture of coolant and distilled water. If you are uncertain if your vehicle has the right proportions, you can simply check with a testing kit available at any local car parts shop. Car engine oil goes differently in colder days than it does while it's warm. According to your vehicle and how cold it reaches, the manufacturer may suggest a different viscosity during winter season. Check your owner's manual to find if the suggestions are different. Additionally, while it's never a good plan to hold off an oil replacement beyond your manufacturer's advised mileage intervals, delaying in winter could get greater strain on your engine compared to delaying in summer.
Check your battery. Colder conditions put more stress on your battery. Inspect your battery for any symptoms of deterioration on the cables, the terminals and the tray that keeps the battery in place. If you notice any, clean up the corrosion or change the corroded item to make sure proper battery function. In addition, look at the date on your battery. The standard battery lasts nearly four years. Thus, if your battery is older, you may need to think about replacing it or having it load-tested at a car parts store to figure out how much life is left.
Check the wipers and fluid. Fill your car windows washer fluid tank with washer liquid instead of water. Windshield washer fluid won't freeze, and hence will stop the reservoir from breaking and also will be obtainable when you need it. Change your wipers if they are over a year old or show signs of wear. Worn or damaged wipers won't clean your windshield smoothly or effectively, possibly lowering visibility when you drive in bad weather.
About the Author
I hope some points I mentioned above can help you keep your old car in a perfect condition. Besides, you also need to maintain those car partsin winter even if you have a new car. To know more about aftermarket car parts, you may pay a visit to carpart4u.
