The health and safety of our staff, customers, and community is our top priority. Read an important message from Rick Roush Honda.
Is your car ready for the winter? Ohio winters typically bring cold temperatures and heavy snowfall, and it’s important to maintain your vehicle so that it performs safely and reliably in those conditions. Your local Honda dealer specializes in providing winter car maintenance.
1. Change Your Oil
An oil change is an important service at any time of year, but it’s especially essential as cold weather sets in. That’s because cold temperatures slow down the flow of your oil, putting more stress on your engine and leaving it less lubricated. Scheduling an oil change ensures that your engine stays happy and healthy during the winter months.
2. Check Your Antifreeze
Liquid antifreeze regulates the temperature of your engine and keeps the water in your radiator from freezing. Antifreeze is used in vehicles year-round, but during the winter the blend of water and antifreeze is adjusted to rely a little more heavily on the antifreeze chemical. If you don’t use antifreeze, or if you allow it to run low, your engine could overheat or seize up.
3. Refresh Your Washer Fluid and Windshield Wipers
Visibility is key when you’re navigating snowy, foggy, wet roads. Before winter sets in, have your windshield wiper blades and your windshield wiping fluid level checked. Given the severity of our winters, you may even want to consider having winter wiper blades installed as well as a special cold-weather cleaning fluid. Speaking of your windshield, make sure your defroster is functioning well.
4. Check Your Battery
Car batteries have a lifespan, and most will need to be replaced after three or four years. If you’ve had your current battery for a couple of years, it’s a good idea to have it tested before winter comes. No one wants to be stranded on the side of the road in snowy conditions, and you can usually avoid that if you’re proactive about maintaining your battery and replacing it before it dies.
Now is also a good time to make sure you have an emergency kit in your car that includes jumper cables as well as a blanket, a flashlight, an emergency warning triangle, and other essentials.
5. Check Your Tires
Heading into winter, you’ll want to make sure your tires are capable of gripping roads that have become slippery with snow and ice. To get good traction, your tires will need to be properly inflated and still have plenty of tread. The service department at your local dealership can inspect your tires and make any service recommendations before winter.
A few simple steps are all it takes to ensure safe driving during the cold-weather season. When you’re ready to get your car, truck, or SUV in shape for the winter, schedule a service appointment at Rick Roush Honda.
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