Automotive News

Utah auto repair shops and Utah tire shops can help you get your vehicle ready for the Utah winter, which is definitely upon us. If you haven’t yet winterized your vehicle, and you’re not very maintenance-savvy, you may be thinking that it’s too late and you’ll just forget it. But that could be a very bad thing-let me tell you why. In Utah, we really do have real winters. What that means is we can have temperatures cold enough to crack your engine block if you don’t have enough antifreeze in your radiator. We also have bad enough road conditions occasionally to cause accidents if you’re driving too fast on inadequate tires.

When winterizing your vehicle, one of the most crucial things to do is to be sure you have the right amount of antifreeze. You can use an inexpensive tester to see how cold your vehicle is winterized for. Unless you’re planning a north-of-the-border trip, you shouldn’t need more than a 50:50 antifreeze/water concentration. This should protect your motor to a minus 34 degree Fahrenheit temperature. Another thing-snow tires are really good to have in Utah because they give much better traction than the all-season ones do. It’s also really important to inflate tires according to your vehicle’s recommendation, including the spare tire. People who have 4WD on their vehicles should get it checked for proper functioning. Owner’s manuals, Utah tire shops, and Utah auto repair shops can help with any of these checks.

You should change your vehicle’s oil, using the recommended oil thickness (or viscosity), at the beginning of winter. Making sure you have functional windshield wipers, have lots of wiper fluid that doesn’t freeze, and have a really good windshield scraper are especially important things to do. It’s also a good practice to remove any corrosion from battery posts, and check batteries older than three years for proper functioning. It’s smart to check your belts and hoses, brakes, lights, defroster, and heater. It’s also good to keep your gas tank full as much as possible in the winter time.

In addition to the year-round emergency items you should keep in your vehicle, which include flashlight, tool kit, booster cables, flares, paper towels, and first-aid kit, you should also have additional items in the winter. These should include a small shovel; a bag of sand, salt, or non-clumping kitty litter; a blanket; warm clothes; boots; gloves; extra windshield washer fluid; food and water; and tire chains.

All this could seem overwhelming if you don’t have a lot of vehicle-maintenance expertise. But it’s all worth the hassle if you save yourself only one minor roadside trouble this winter. However, you could save yourself some major trouble or even tragedy. Remember, though, you’re not without help in your winterizing efforts. You can access the expertise of the technicians and mechanics at Utah auto repairs shops and Utah tires shops throughout Utah, maximizing your chances of being safe on the roads this winter.

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