Don’t Skip These Maintenance Appointments This Winter

What Are the Most Important Winter Automotive Services?

Winter can be extraordinarily tough on your automobile. While your schedule can get hectic, you must keep up with regular service recommendations. We asked a few of the service experts in the Fairley & Stevens Ford Service Department about the most critical automotive services vehicle owners can’t afford to skip. The good news is that most of these will be taken care of just by following the regular maintenance plan laid out by your vehicle’s manufacturer. 

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Automotive Appointments For Safe Winter Driving

Subfreezing temperatures, slippery roads, and rapidly shifting weather conditions are what make winter so hard on your car, truck, or SUV. The most important things our service department can do to help keep you safe on the road include:

• Tire Health: Keep an eye on the tire’s tread depth to ensure it performs as intended. Also, be sure to monitor tire pressure, which can fluctuate with changing temperatures.
• Test Battery: Freezing temperatures can reduce battery power by more than 50 percent. Watch for signs of a failing battery, such as dim interior lights or the engine struggling to start.
• Engine Coolant & Antifreeze: Coolant already does a lot, including dissipating heat produced by the engine. It also helps carry heat into the passenger cabin. Low coolant levels can make cold days colder and may damage the engine.
• Oil Changes: Low temperatures can cause motor oil to thicken, increasing stress on the engine.
• Brake Inspection: Working brakes are always important, but never more so than during the winter months.

Winter Safety Things You Can Do At Home

Not everything that keeps your vehicle running in the winter needs to be handled by our service department. There are a few things you can do at home that are just as important. These things include:

• Keeping Salt Off: Road salt and moisture cause corrosion, which can eat a vehicle from the inside out. Running your vehicle helps prevent rust.
• Treat Locks & Door Seals: Treating door locks with de-icer can prevent you from being frozen out of your vehicle. Also, treating door seals to keep them soft and pliable will keep the weather outside where it belongs.
• Check Exterior Lights: Headlights and taillights need to be working to help drivers see the road and to help other drivers see them.

Make an appointment with the Fairley & Stevens Ford Service Department if you would like to make sure your car has what it takes to make it through the rest of the winter driving season.