Tires: Check your tire to make sure they have good tread, are not dry rotted which will be evidenced with small cracks in the rubber and are properly inflated. While we don’t sell or install tires at Dr. Auto, we are glad to inspect your tires to make sure they are safe for winter driving.
Wipers: Rain, sleet, fog and snow will make seeing the road more difficult and if your wipers are not in good shape you could be endangering yourself and others on the road. Do you remember the last time you changed your wiper blades? If not, it’s probably time to get new ones. Stop in, we’ll inspect and advise. Also, when you turn your car off be sure your wipers are turned off as well. Leaving them on can cause damage to the motor since ice or snow causes them to get stuck until the next time you turn your car on.
Battery: Do you remember how old your battery is? If not, the installation date should be located on the battery. If it’s not, swing by and we’ll check to see if your battery can be trusted to start your car. If you need a new battery we will be glad to provide an Interstate Battery to make sure you get from point A to point B.
Antifreeze: Automobile engines create a tremendous amount of heat due to the friction of the internal parts. Therefore, they need to be cooled and the best way to do that is with liquid flowing throughout the engine block. This kind of liquid is vital to not just keeping your engine cool but also keeping it from freezing—when its not running. Cold winter temperatures can cause the engine coolant to freeze if the the liquid is not the right kind or quality. A frozen engine can crack the block which would require major repair costs. We’ll make sure your engine coolant system is flushed, filled and ready to operate properly.
Emergency Kit: Every vehicle should have a basic emergency kit. There are several options, but a few essential items are a flashlight, a “space” blanket (shiny, reflective blanket to keep you warm), whistle for alerting help and a can of tire inflator for flat tires.
Headlight Waxing: Yep, we said it. If you wax your headlights (and tail lights) you will help keep ice and slush from building up on your lights, thus getting more light out of your lights and making your driving experience more safe. Apply any kind of auto wax like you would to your car – wax on, wax off.