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Prepare Your Car for Winter Driving Conditions
Temperature extremes always bring out the worst in your car, like dead batteries, soft tires, gasoline freeze, and carburetor and heating problems. The most common car equipment failures are due to loss of brakes, tire blowouts, thread separation and then the steering and suspension failure. Of the nearly 51 million travelers AAA expects to be on the roads this holiday season, many will be traveling on some of the most dangerous travel days of the year
The month of December is famous for dropping temperatures, snow, and dangerous icy road conditions. It is critical to make sure your car is prepared to take on severe winter driving conditions during the holiday season.
"While you should keep your vehicle in top operating condition all year round, it is especially important to get it winterized to avoid dangerous situations while traveling in frigid weather," state Krista Conte, Allstate Spokesperson for New York.
It is very important to give your vehicle a once-over. Check your battery, engine, brakes, tire pressure, coolant, transmission and windshield washer fluids before driving. Also, make sure mirrors and seats are adjusted and seat belts are working properly. Allstate Insurance Company and Road and Travel Magazine offer the following vehicle winterizing tips:
-Get a basic tune-up. Hoses, belts, spark plugs and wires should be checked and changed if necessary.
-Protect against freeze ups. Antifreeze/coolant is extremely important in colder temperatures. If there is too much water and not enough antifreeze/ coolant in the system, it can freeze up, expand and crack key engine components. Motorists should check fluid levels and top them off with a ready-touse formula before temperatures plummet.
-Check tire tread. Bald tires are not only unsafe, but can potentially lead to a disaster on slick, wet roadways. Tires connect the car to the road, so traction is utterly imperative during winter. In areas with high snow accumulation, four winter tires are a solid investment. They offer more traction when accelerating, braking and turning.
-Replace worn brake pads and shoes. Having maximum stopping power is essential.
-Use a winter-formulated washer fluid. Regular blue washer fluids can freeze in the washer reservoir or on the windshield while driving. Special de-icer formulas will stay liquid in the washer reservoir at temperatures as low as -34°F.
-Check windshield wipers. If they streak or cause problems, motorists should buy blades especially made for winter conditions. Visibility is crucial this time of year.
-Prevent gas line freeze. Using a winter fuel system cleaner helps prevent gas line freeze in extremely cold weather conditions. Prestone R&D engineers recommend adding a bottle of fuel de-icer at every fill up to keep moisture from freezing in the fuel line.
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