Take That Mother Nature

By Jim Gorzelany
CTW Feature

It's that time of the year again. Time to shop for a new coat or a pair of boots to help block winter's icy chill outdoors, and install the storm windows and stuff up the cracks to keep things toasty indoors. Importantly, this is also time to ensure that one's faithful car or truck is able to withstand the effects of Jack Frost nipping at its proverbial nose.
Mechanically inclined individuals can often perform the necessary checks and preparations themselves, though it may pay to have an older car-especially one that's already exhibiting symptoms of age like hard starting or sluggish acceleration- checked out by a technician before the mercury plummets. As is the case with our own age-related ailments, the cold weather makes a vehicle's mechanical problems worse, and moving the family's fleet of cars to Florida or Arizona for the winter isn't much of an option.
Otherwise, here's a simple checklist of inspections and procedures that can help ensure one's car or truck is well prepared to handle the worst Old Man Winter has to offer:

• Inspect the battery and ensure the cable connections are tight and that the terminals are free from corrosion -  if you see a white powder at the contacts, clean them off with a wire brush. If the battery is several years old, consider buying a new one as a preventive measure
• Flush the radiator and fill it with a 50/50 percent mixture of coolant and water, especially if it's been two or more years since this was last performed. At the least, test its antifreeze protection level with an inexpensive tester that' sold at any auto parts store or have a technician perform this checks; if it tests low, have the system flushed and refilled.
• Change the engine oil and oil filter, and check brakes, transmission and power steering fluid levels, topping off as necessary. Have the engine's air and fuel filters changed according to the manufacturer's service interval, or as otherwise required, and likewise have belts and hoses checked out to ensure they're not cracked or frayed.
• Replace the windshield wipers, and top off the washer fluid reservoir; buy a spare jug of fluid to keep in the trunk, as it tends to run out quickly in messy weather.
• Visually inspect the vehicle's tires for uneven and excessive tread wear. Tires are manufactured with warning bars that appear in the grooves of the tires when they have 2/32 inches of tire tread remaining; if you see them, have the tires replaced (or stick a penny head-first into the tread; if you can see the top of Lincoln's head it's time for a change). Uneven tread wear usually means the front end is out of alignment, one or more suspension components is worn out or the tires are improperly inflated.
• Speaking of which, check the tires' air pressure frequently using a good-quality air gauge and keep the tires inflated according to the automaker's recommendations. Air pressure in a tire typically decreases by 1-to-2 pounds for every 10 degrees of temperature change.
• Swap so-called "summer" high-performance tires, if your car is so equipped, for a set of all-seasons radials that will afford necessary traction on wet or snowy roads. Those driving rear-drive cars in snowy areas should consider having a set of mud and snow tires installed on the drive wheels.
• Finally, if you're driving an electric car, be aware that its operating range could diminish dramatically along with a precipitous drop in temperature, and plan trips accordingly to avoid being stranded by a depleted battery. According to the AAA Automotive Research Center in Southern California, its maximum miles on a charge could diminish by as much as 57 percent depending on the ambient temperature.