Winter Car Care from Ford

Our 11 year old car is on it's last legs and my normally neglectful nature has to be much more vigilant and listen to every wheeze and knock.  As a committed one car family (one of the ways we reduce our family's carbon footprint) we cannot handle unscheduled car work, so I try to get it in regularly as soon as something becomes amiss.  The last time I didn't pay attention to the "Check Engine" light and waited a few weeks, the car wound up having to go in for an entire week to get it fixed.

Ford sent me these tips of some things that we all can do (old car or not) to keep our vehicles in tip top shape for the winter.  I've printed this out and put it in my car to serve as a reminder to me.

We still have at least three months of winter ahead of us.  When the temperature dips low, you would never step outside without a warm coat, hat and gloves right?  

Next to changing your oil regularly, winterizing your vehicle is one of the most important things you can do to extend the life of your car, and ultimately will also save you money.  Ford wants to make sure that you all have the chance to Go Further this holiday season and are offering some tips to help you save money:

                                         

1.     Check your wipers and winter washer fluid: Low visibility can make driving in cold weather extremely dangerous, so it is important to make sure the wiper blades are up to par. Your wiper blades are made out of rubber, and with time they'll crack, split and deteriorate. Worse, they old and worn wipers can easily scratch a windshield. Windshield wipers should be replaced every six to 12 months. Keeping your wiper fluid filled up is also a plus, as fluid can assist in breaking up snow and ice on the windshield.

Cost now: Approx. $19.95                                       Cost later: $440 to replace scratched windshield

2.     Check and replace battery if necessary: If your battery is not that old, it is still good to take a look and make sure nothing's wrong. Check the battery cables and clamps for fraying or corrosion. If there's a white, powdery substance around the clamps, that's corrosion from battery acid -- you can clean it off easily with baking soda, water and a toothbrush. Your battery is also filled with fluid, so make sure it has enough inside. Most batteries have caps on top, and you can check the level by removing the caps. If it is low, fill the holes with distilled water, being careful not to fill past the bottom of the cap.

Cost now: Approx. $29.95 to cable cleaning             Cost later: $380 for a tow and battery

and battery test                                                                       replacement from a dead battery

3.     Get a coolant flush and fill: Flushing a radiator gets rid of contaminants and rust and prevents corrosion. Since the heating system works off of the same coolant that circulates throughout your engine, performing a coolant flush and fill will also prevent overheating - the most common cause of breakdowns and internal engine damage.

Cost now: Approx. $111.95                                     Cost later: New engines could run $5,000 if the engine block freezes

4.     Check tires and tire pressure: Wet or icy roads can cause dangerous accidents in the winter, so it's very important to make sure your tires are equipped to handle adverse weather conditions. If you choose to use regular tires on your car, check the air pressure on each tire. Deflated tires close up the tread and significantly decrease traction, increasing the likelihood of sliding on icy patches. Many gas stations have the tools available for you to check tire pressure, and it costs nothing or next to nothing to fill your tires with the right amount of air. At Ford, we recommend drivers check the air pressure in all tires, including the spare, at least once a month. And as a reminder, tire pressure should always be checked when the tires are cold. As required by the TREAD Act, any vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating less than 10,000 lbs. sold on or after September 1, 2007, must be equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), an intelligent technology found on all Ford vehicles, including the 2013 Escape.

Cost now: $2 for a tire gauge or free                        Cost later: Hundreds of dollars a month in

       at some service stations                                         wasted gas due to tire pressure imbalance        

5.     Keep an Emergency Kit Inside Your Car: It's a good idea to keep some extra material in the trunk in addition to your spare tire. Bottles of engine oil, washer fluid and coolant, flashlights and flares all come in handy. Even if you're wearing a coat, an extra pair of gloves, boots or even a blanket can keep you warm and dry if your heating unit isn't working properly.

Cost now: Approx. $25                                           Cost later: Costs related to medical attention

This is not a sponsored post - I received no compensation for this post.