Understanding Fall Car Care

These Fall Car Care tips will help prepare your car for winter. It’s important to understand preventative vehicle maintenance.

Tip 1: Battery
Bringing your car in for a battery check can help to determine the car’s battery life.

Tip 2: Tire Pressure
There are several factors for an accurate tire pressure reading. Tires that have just been on the road can affect the psi reading. It is always best to test tire pressure when the tires are cold. For every 10 degrees of temperature change, air pressure in a tire decreases 1-2 pounds.

Tip 3: Tire Tread
If you’re looking forward to a brutal winter full of snow and ice, it may be a good idea to check your tire tread. Tire tread can be measured using a tread depth gauge, or you can do the “penny test”. With the “penny test”, you insert a penny into the the tire tread grooves with Lincoln’s head facing down. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, your tires are considered bald at 2/32nds of an inch.

Tip 4: Brake Check
It is important to check brake pads to avoid ruining your rotors. If you hear screeching while breaking, your breaks are in need of a change. Having worn break pads can decrease your stopping abilities and eat away at your rotors.

Tip 5: Washer Fluid
DO NOT USE WATER in the cold months. It will freeze. Choose a washer fluid that is meant for cold temperatures.

Tip 6: Heating and Cooling
Have your Heating and Cooling checked before the weather changes completely. It’s not just about comfort, but you need heating to defrost windows in the winter.

Tip 7: Headlights
Have your headlight brightness tested and be sure your bright lights are working properly. You can always have them cleaned to function more efficiently. Fall and Winter mean longer nights and you’ll be needing your headlights more often.

Be sure to use these Fall Car Care tips and to have your preventative maintenance check up to keep your vehicle running smoother longer.