Mechanics warn drivers to prepare for colder weather
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – This weekend is promising colder temperatures and the incoming winter season, leading many mechanics to say it’s time to winterize your vehicle.
AAA has an acronym they recommend for car preparation called BET.
Check the Battery Check the Engine Check your TiresAccording to recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau, well over 70,000 people have moved to Idaho from other states each year. Many are from states further south, such as Texas and California. Meaning many cars may not be ready for the winter.
Not checking any of these things could expose problems we didn’t notice in the warmer weather.
“The one thing about winter weather is that it doesn’t create problems. It just brings out problems that were already there,” Jake Oswald, the Manager for Oswald’s Repair and Service, said. “The worst-case scenario would be your coolant freezing. That can, in fact, crack your engine block because obviously it freezes and expands.”
Taking preventative care for your battery, fluid levels, and tires may be the key to preventing larger expenses down the road. Such as tires beginning to deflate due to the cold air. Having something like a portable tire inflator or just stopping by your local gas station to keep your tires road-safe.
These winter changes to your car extend beyond your tires.
“There’s an old saying that Noah built the ark before the flood,” Matthew Conde, the AAA Public and Government Affairs Director, said. “The main thing is, you don’t want to be in the middle of a really bad winter storm, and then all of a sudden you’re trying to catch up to the things that you should have been doing.”
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