Winter Maintenance Tips

When it comes to weather, it’s your tires that are the single most important factor. Fresh tires with proper air pressure and good tread, even all-weather tires, are suitable for driving on roads even in light snow or rain. Winter tires may be required in harsher conditions, which have a softer rubber compound and may include studs to better grip the icy pavement. In all conditions, avoid driving on tires that are balding, damaged, or poorly inflated. This can compromise performance and safety. Have your tires inspected and pressure-checked at our service center. If necessary, we can install high-quality replacement tires that will stand up to winter roads.

Not all of the wiper fluid you find at the local gas station in Southern states is suitable for winter weather. Some wiper fluid will freeze in cold temperatures. This will clog the lines and prevent you from using the sprayers to keep the windshield free of dirt, water, and mud. Switch to a winter fluid that won’t freeze. This fluid also helps keep ice from forming on the windshield as you drive or melt ice that has formed while parked.

As snow, ice, or freezing rain build up on your windshield. You’ll need effective wiper blades to maintain good visibility. Check your wiper blades and have them replaced if they are clattering, streaking, or smearing across your windshield. Inspect the rubber blade insert for cracks or chips, as rubber compounds may become more brittle in the cold.

It’s always important to be able to stop your vehicle with confidence, but even more so in icy conditions where your vehicle is more likely to slip and slide! Have your brakes inspected regularly? A technician will measure the remaining width of your brake pad and recommend replacement if the brake pad is sufficiently worn down.

Thankfully, most modern engine coolants are engineered to withstand even sub-zero temperatures — hence the term “antifreeze” is often used to describe engine coolant. However, some coolants or engines cooled with just water will freeze if the outside temperature drops, causing catastrophic damage to the engine as it runs! Make sure you’re using a modern engine coolant designed for your Ford engine.

In cold temperatures, your exterior mirrors, windows, and windshield can all frost over. The same system that heats your cabin also defrosts the windows and mirrors so you can safely see in a winter storm. If this system isn’t ready for winter, your next car trip might not only be uncomfortable. It can even become unsafe!

Did you know your car battery generates less power as it gets colder? Make sure the battery in your car has enough CCA (Cold Cranking Amps) to get the engine running in freezing temperatures. A technician can perform a battery health test to ensure your battery has enough life remaining to start your car reliably, even in the cold.

A minor chip or crack in your windshield will grow over time. It grows because changing temperatures cause the glass to expand and contract, helping the crack stretch its way across your windshield. Ensure you have the best visibility and take care of chips and cracks in the windshield before temperatures start to fall.

Any good roadside safety kit should be equipped with water, a first-aid kit, jumper cables, and road triangles or flares. For winter weather, you’ll also want to be prepared with a windshield scraper, thermal blankets if you become stranded in the cold, even a bag of sand or road salt, and a small shovel to help extract a vehicle stuck in a snowdrift. Consider adding these items to your kit in the event of travel in snowy or icy conditions.