Automotive Winter Weatherization Tips

Written by: Joe McCann

Hello everybody, I would quickly like to take a moment and thank everyone for taking the time to read the first monthly McCann’s Garage automotive blog. I’ve thankfully had the pleasure of working at McCann’s throughout the entirety of my adult life. Without a doubt my favorite part of the job is meeting and getting to know the number of great customers we’ve been able to serve for the past 56 years. After nearly six decades of being in business, our location has stayed the same, but the types of vehicles that we service has not. Much like most things in today’s modernized society, the vehicles we drive are leaps and bounds more advanced than vehicles even 20 years ago. The purpose of this first blog is to discuss winter car care tips, and for you the better understand some of the features that your vehicle has, to make driving on slippery roads safer.

It was Benjamin Franklin who famously said “The only two things certain in life are death and taxes.” For most of the continental U.S that is absolutely true. However, I’d like to add a third certainty to Mr. Franklin’s famous quote. If you are lucky enough to be one of the 5.7 million people who live in Wisconsin, unfortunately death, taxes, and a bitter cold Winter are all just part of life for us Wisconsinites. The most important thing you can do for your vehicle, when those frosty January mornings inevitably come, is to make sure your coolant is not only full, but also strong enough to handle the cold temperatures. Remember from your high school science classes, when water freezes, it expands. When it expands in your engine, it makes for expensive repairs. The term coolant and antifreeze are technically two different things. Coolant refer to the mixture of antifreeze and water in your engine. If sometime throughout the dog days of summer someone poured pure water into either the radiator or the coolant reservoir. There’s a good chance the mixture isn’t strong enough. Typically, whenever you make a mixture of coolant, you’re looking for a good 50-50 mix of quality coolant and water. To check the strength of the coolant, you can take the vehicle to any qualified auto repair facility, and with a tool called a hydrometer, they can test to see if the mixture is up to par. Any maintenance done this time of year should not only include a check of your coolant, but also the following, to ensure you’ll be safe for the conditions ahead.

1. Antifreeze – 50-50 mix of antifreeze and water will bring the coolant to a strength of -40 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Condition of tires – Trying to drive in winter will bald tires is like how Elton John put it “It’s like trying to drink whiskey out of a bottle of wine”, it just doesn’t work out well.
3. Battery – Anyone who has lived in Wisconsin knows, Winter is tough on batteries, always make sure you get your starting and charging system checked to prevent any starting issues during those bitter cold mornings.
4. Wiper blades – Spending a little extra to get a premium set up blades is always a good idea. You’ll thank yourself when the snow starts blowing and you have a nice clean windshield.

If you look back throughout the history of the automobile, there isn’t a single time in the past 100 years, when vehicles have been as safe and as efficient than they are now. In fact, 2014 saw the fewest automobile deaths since the late 1970’s, and it’s certainly not because people are driving less. It’s in due part to many of the safety features many of us don’t even know we have. Your antilock brake system or ABS may be one of them. The ABS system allows the driver to apply the brakes on slippery roads and still give the person the ability to maintain control of the vehicle. Before the days of antilock brakes, drivers were told to pump the brake pedal in slippery conditions. This would prevent the front wheels from locking up, and allow the drive to safely maneuver in dangerous situations. The ABS system actually has the ability to apply the brakes for you electronically. It gives the driver the ability to maintain control of the vehicle in harsh weather without having to also worry about pumping the brakes. One thing many people don’t realize is that your ABS system and your hydraulic brake system are two different things. If your ABS light does come on… DO NOT WORRY …you will not lose control of your brakes. The light simple means there is a problem in the electronic part of the brakes also known as the ABS system. The stabilitrak system is another feature many people either don’t know they have or simple don’t know what it does. The stabilitrak works in correlation with your ABS. Simply put, it helps the driver maintain control of the vehicle during certain low-traction driving conditions on loose, snowy, icy, wet or uneven roads. The system uses inputs from sensors in your steering column and compares them with actual driving conditions to make small braking changes to insure you stay on your original path. Again like your ABS light, if you do see a stabliatrak light come on… DO NOT PANIC …the vehicle is 100% safe to drive. Simply give a call to your trusted auto repair specialists and have it diagnosed. Hopefully this information was helpful. I know first-hand how difficult it is to keep up with the ever changing technologies the manufactures are implementing into their products. If you ever have any questions about winter weatherization or any questions regarding your vehicle. I know the experts at McCann’s Garage will be able to help.