Winter Driving Tips

Are you eyeing your car with more scrutiny these days? Hoping it's in good enough shape to get you through the winter?

You'll need to do more than merely hope, of course. October is a good time to review critical items that may need servicing for the cold-weather season ahead.

Vehicle stress and strain increases greatly during the winter months and minor deficiencies can turn into major problems. So it is extremely important for motorists to take precautions before the weather gets too cold.

Batteries Get Zapped by the Cold
Cold weather is hard on batteries. Therefore, checking your car's battery should be at the top of any winterizing to-do list.

You should first look at the connections and make sure they're tight and corrosion-free and that the cables aren't loose.

A qualified technician should determine the condition of the battery via a load test. Some mechanics recommend replacing a battery with less than a year left on its warranty regardless of how it scores on a load test.

These pros point out that a battery loses almost a third of its starting cranking power at the freezing point of 0 degree Celsius. And it goes down drastically from there. A strong, healthy battery is absolutely vital in winter.

Get Fluids Up to Snuff
The Specialty Equipment Marketing Association, which is made up of companies that sell a variety of automotive parts, advises you get a thorough check of your vehicle's vital fluids and filters as well as hoses, belts and tires.

"At the very least," SEMA says, "a change of season should automatically tip you off to have the oil and filter in your vehicle changed." While a car may well be due for an oil change, some cars also require a lighter weight - or lower viscosity - oil if driven in severe cold. If applicable, your owner's manual will have details.

Coolant level also should be checked. Make sure the mix between antifreeze and water is correct, usually at 50/50. If the coolant level has remained at what is specified in the car's owner's manual, it's likely OK. But if water has been added from time to time, have the cooling system checked and, if necessary, flushed and refilled.

Visibility Is Critical
Don't overlook windshield-washer fluid. Always keep it topped off with proper commercial anti-freeze washing fluid from your local fill-up station or auto parts store. It's time for the blueish liquid to take over from the red-coloured fluid you could have been using for splattered bugs last summer.

In addition, auto experts advise checking to see how well the wipers work. Blades aren't expensive, and they're relatively easy to replace. If your blades are more than a year old and/or don't get the windshield completely clean - without streaks - in three swipes, it's time for new ones.

You can also simply make the swap to winter-ready wiper blades. These come with a rubber cover over the metal arms that keeps them from icing up, which would seriously hamper their effectiveness in the coldest weather.

You should remember to change back to the regular blades next spring. The same rubber covers tend to keep condensation water in and make the wiper arms rust.

Inspect and keep your car's headlights, taillights, brake lights and defrosters clean and in good working order, too. Don't forget to include your emergency flashers. "See and be seen" is a precious motto to remember and apply.

Interior Items Count, Too
Check your vehicle's floor for any cracks or holes that could let in dangerous exhaust gases, not to mention icy goo. All gases need to be vented to the outside and not allowed to come into your vehicle. Remember, deadly carbon monoxide gas is odorless, so don't ignore this issue.

Test your vehicle's heater to make sure it's in good working order, so you and your riders will be comfortable during winter drives. Short hops make it even more important to get the most out of your vehicle's heating and defrosting capabilities.

Don't Forget Brakes, Belts, Hoses
Brake and clutch fluids should be topped off, as should transmission fluid (assuming your vehicle doesn't have a sealed-for-life gearbox; check your owner's manual).

Push and pull on engine belts and squeeze hoses. These items tend to deteriorate over time, so regular checkups should help you spot trouble before it occurs.

The rule of thumb is that belts giving more than one inch under finger pressure might need adjustment. At any sign of cracking or fraying of either, have the offender replaced.

As for hoses, look for loose connections, unusual bulges, cracks, tears and holes.

Tires Change in the Cold
Tire pressure and tread depth affect traction in snow and rain.

"You should check your tires' inflation pressures during the fall and early winter months as colder temperatures cause the air in your tires to contract. For every 5.5 degree Celsius (C) change in outside temperature, your tires' inflation pressures will change by about 1 psi (pounds per square inch) - up with higher and down with lower temperatures" explains Tony Mougios, Michelin Brand Manager in Canada.

"Canada is a country of temperature extremes, Mougios added, with summer temperatures reaching 30o C and winter temperatures reaching -30oC. This 60-degree swing in temperature can result in a loss of about 6 psi, which will sacrifice tire performance, tread wear and driving safety!"

This is not a once-a-winter check. Make a point to monitor your tire pressure about twice a month in the cold months. And don't forget to check your spare wheel.

Changing Tires for the Cold
The best and safest strategy, in Canada, is to get four of the best-quality winter tires installed on a separate set of wheels. You can typically get several winters of normal use out of these tires, which will make your other set last that much longer.

Tread depth is critical to controlling a car at all times but especially in snow or heavy rain. The closer the tire tread depth is to its original state, the better. Ideal tread depth varies from one tire to the next, though. Including winter tires. Maximum depth is not an absolute value anymore.

The most recent and modern designs place a strong emphasis on hi-tech, cold-insensitive rubber compounds and tread designs. Shallower tread depths allow for better control, a much quieter ride and even greater overall traction on ice, snow or slush.

A cautionary note, finally, regarding studded tires. While they can offer a dramatic traction improvement over conventional street tires on hard-packed snow and ice, they reduce traction on dry roads because the studs keep the tire from gripping the road as completely.

You must also be aware of provincial rules that prohibit the use of studded tires outside of the coldest months of the year. These regulations vary across the country. Check with your local transport authority.

Tune-Up Time?
Check the owner's manual to see if a general tune-up is due - spark plugs, ignition coil, fuel-injection and other emission-control equipment, brake linings or pads and general lubrication - or if one will be due come wintry December or January.

If that's the case, think about having it done now. You can get it out of the way before the busy holiday season arrives, and you can avoid the worry if winter strikes early or is particularly nasty.

Put at least one coat of wax on the exterior of your vehicle. Not only will it protect your paint in winter, it can help snow and ice slide off more easily.

Some auto experts advise spraying lubricants such as WD-40 or graphite in all door and trunk locks to keep them from freezing. These lubricants can be found at local auto parts stores.

Be Ready for Trouble
Be sure to stock your emergency kit and keep it inside your vehicle. Experts suggest a kit thast includes the following: flashlight, flares, first-aid kit, blanket, warm clothes, gloves, hat, paper towels, snow shovel, snow brush, ice scraper, washer fluid, some high-energy food and water. Good-quality booster cables are an excellent idea too.

Our winter driving experts recommend carrying a bag of sand or gritty ashes. Poured under tires, these can help provide traction if your vehicle gets stuck on ice or hard-packed snow.

Finally, if you own a cell phone remember to carry it with you, as fully charged as possible, if you do not have a plug-in car charger.

Beyond Delusions of Safety
Just because you drive a seemingly rugged Sport-utility vehicles doesn't mean you're ready for the coming storm: adequate preparation will put you miles ahead once winter hits. Or keep you from getting in deeper trouble, quicker and earlier than other road users.

Foremost, these "SUVs", with their usually greater mass, high centre of gravity and greater acceleration capabilities, need the best-possible winter tires more than any other type of vehicle on Canadian roads.

Still, the best strategy for ultimate winter driving safety remains the ongoing development and sharpening of your driving skills. In this vein, the best investment is to enroll in an advanced winter driving course.

In becoming a winter driving, expert, you have everything to gain and nothing to lose but your fear or dislike of driving in a typical Canadian snow storm.

From Sympatico Auto?s Winter Driving Site

http://en.autos.sympatico.msn.ca/as/minishow/article.aspx?contentID=4021026&s=WDG2005&src=minishow