Winter Preparation of your Car or SUV (Part 2)
Winter driving 1Originally uploaded by Harry Azhar
Here are a few more ideas to help prepare yourself for old man winter:
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Get a fresh set of windshield wipers. They are cheap, easy to put on, and about one of the most crucial components on a vehicle during a bad winter storm. You aren’t going to get very far in a winter storm if you can’t see and chances are if you have an old pair of wipers that are starting to deteriorate, the winter months is when they are going to fail. They will rip, warp, and sometimes break clean off, leaving a deep scratch in your windshield that will definitely remind you next winter to take this advice.
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This next bit may be a bit hard to stomach with the cost of gas these days, but the winter is a time when you should have a near full tank of gas at all times.
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One, it is always a good idea to have a plentiful reservoir in the case of an emergency or really bad storm.
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Two, it minimizes condensation in the fuel system that could lead to a frozen gas line.
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Three, it allows added weight on the rear tires that could aid in snowy condition driving, especially with a rear wheel drive vehicle.
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Check those tires through each major change of the temperatures outside for the next several months. For every 5 degrees Celsius the temperature drops, the pressure in a tire will drop by one pound per square foot. So, if you’re going from 90 degree weather to 0… that can certainly add up to some serious dire deflation!
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Have a “good†look at your battery. Sometimes a failing battery will seem fine through the summer months and the minute a really cold day hits, you will be stranded at the office, gas station, grocery store, post office… and by the time you realize you need a new battery, you will be a human Popsicle!
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You should have these items in your vehicle during the winter months to cover most any situation:
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Windshield scraper and snow brush
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Lightweight shovel
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Bag of sand, traction mat,etc.
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Properly inflated spare tire
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Wheel wrench and jack
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First aid kit
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Flashlight
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Flares
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Battery jumper cables and/or emergency jump starter battery
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Cell phone
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Blankets
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Nutrition Bars
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Water
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