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Friday, December 18, 2009

Is Your Vehicle Ready For Winter In Utah? Check Your Tires And Fluids Now

By James Edith

Utah auto repairs workshops and Utah tires shops can help you prepare your vehicle for the onslaught of the Utah winter, which is now already upon us. Perhaps you've procrastinated or just haven't found time to winterize your vehicle yet, and maybe you just aren't terribly maintenance-savvy. You may be thinking that it's too late to winterize and that you should just forget about doing it. That, however, would be a bad thing. Let me explain why. As you may know, in Utah, we actually get real winters. This means we can sometimes have temperatures low enough to crack antifreeze-deficient engine blocks and road conditions horrible enough to necessitate having tires with exceptionally good traction.

When winterizing your vehicle, one of the most crucial things to do is to be sure you have the right amount of antifreeze. You can use an inexpensive tester to see how cold your vehicle is winterized for. Unless you're planning a north-of-the-border trip, you shouldn't need more than a 50:50 antifreeze/water concentration. This should protect your motor to a minus 34 degree Fahrenheit temperature. Another thing-snow tires are really good to have in Utah because they give much better traction than the all-season ones do. It's also really important to inflate tires according to your vehicle's recommendation, including the spare tire. People who have 4WD on their vehicles should get it checked for proper functioning. Owner's manuals, Utah tire shops, and Utah auto repair shops can help with any of these checks.

It's a good idea to change your engine oil at the start of winter, making sure it's the right winter thickness (or viscosity). You should make sure your windshield wipers are in good shape for winter, that you have plenty of non-freezing wiper fluid, and that you have a good windshield scraper. It's good to check your battery posts and connections for corrosion, and if your battery is more than three years old, have it tested. You should have all your belts and hoses inspected; get your brakes checked; check your lights, heater, and defroster; and keep your gas tank as full as possible throughout the winter months.

In addition to the year-round emergency items you should keep in your vehicle, which include flashlight, tool kit, booster cables, flares, paper towels, and first-aid kit, you should also have additional items in the winter. These should include a small shovel; a bag of sand, salt, or non-clumping kitty litter; a blanket; warm clothes; boots; gloves; extra windshield washer fluid; food and water; and tire chains.

All this could seem overwhelming if you don't have a lot of vehicle-maintenance expertise. But it's all worth the hassle if you save yourself only one minor roadside trouble this winter. However, you could save yourself some major trouble or even tragedy. Remember, though, you're not without help in your winterizing efforts. You can access the expertise of the technicians and mechanics at Utah auto repairs shops and Utah tires shops throughout Utah, maximizing your chances of being safe on the roads this winter. - 21392

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