Jeff's Tips

WINTER DRIVING

Well we're having fun now.

Things to remember about winter; tires lose air when the temp goes down, so frequent check of air pressure will give you better traction, better fuel mileage and longer tire life. Hoses (both coolant and oil) will shrink and leak in the cold, so more frequent checks of fluids are also important.

Wiper blades can be damaged easily by freezing to the windshield, so lift off the glass by hand in icy conditions before driving. Also check the freeze temperature of your windshield wash, not all are good to sub zero temps.

What about getting stuck in the snow? If it happens, anything more than a gentle front and back rocking can cause serious transmission damage. My advice is, if it doesn't get free easily, call for a tow, it's a lot cheaper. Good all season tires or special winter tires are a must this time of year, so if your having trouble, take a look at your tread.

To warm up or not to warm up. My advice is to let the engine run at least a full minute before placing the transmission in gear in sub zero weather. This gives the fluids time to start circulating. Longer warm ups cause no problems but do consume a little more fuel.