Being seasonally prepared when caring for your car means you’re ready for anything. Both winter and summer are the two most strenuous seasons for vehicles because they can present the most significant obstacles. When the weather turns freezing, there are specific steps you need to take to maintain your Honda and ensure its reliability and your safety.
Make Sure Your Battery’s in Good Health
First things first, go to Michael Hohl Honda and have your battery tested. This is a simple process that a tech can complete in mere minutes. If your battery’s health is not in the best condition, then it could be time to get a new one. When the weather turns cold, a battery can easily lose charge, and if your terminals have any corrosion, that can leave you stranded because the connection is poor. The last thing you want to do is be stranded in a parking lot with no jumper cables or jump box to get you running.
Get A Fresh Oil Change
Another very important thing to do is to make sure you have the correct oil viscosity for the winter months. Some carmakers will actually have recommendations for service techs in colder areas on which oil is best for a car. Oil gets thicker and slows down as it gets colder, and if your engine is starved of oil during a cold start, that can eventually lead to problems.
Tires Are a No Brainer
Next up should be fairly obvious, but tires. A proper set of winter or all-season tires is the safest way to operate your Honda in the colder months. And it doesn’t just have to be because of snow or ice. Summer and some all-season tires do not fare well in colder months because the rubber used works best at certain temperatures. Tires that aren’t rated for cold weather become stiffer and will increase stopping distances, especially if it is even a little bit wet. The more you drive summer tires in harsh temperatures, the faster they will degrade.
Have The Rest of Your Fluids Checked
As it gets colder outside, it’s also a good time to have your fluids changed. Proper coolant levels, with a correctly bled cooling system, will allow you to pump heat out of your car reliably over the winter, and brake and transmission fluid should also be checked to make sure they are not overdue for service. Fresh transmission fluid can help your transmission shift more smoothly on cold days, and new brake fluid can improve reliability during hard stops.
New Windshield Wipers Are a Must
An often-overlooked part of your car is the windshield wipers. How many times have you been in a rain or snowstorm and turned on your wipers only to realize that they are barely getting anything off the windshield?
Put Together an Emergency Kit
Last but not least, when preparing your car for winter is to have a kit together for emergencies, such as jumper cables, a portable jump starter/jump box, a blanket or two, first aid kit, portable jack, shovel, ice scraper, water and snacks, and even sand or cat litter to utilize when you are stuck and need traction.
Michael Hohl Honda Has a Great Service Department
If your car has trouble with the heat, takes a while to start, or if you hear lots of road noise, stop by the service department at Michael Hohl Honda to have your vehicle checked by the professionals. If you would like to trade your car in, the talented sales staff can help you find the best vehicle at the right price.
Why Choose Michael Hohl Honda
At Michael Hohl Honda, we take the utmost pride in offering you the absolute best experience possible. Whether you are looking for a new or used car, our sales team and finance department will work with you to secure the best possible price. When it comes to servicing your vehicle, our service center will take care of your car as if it were one of their own. And our parts center will take care of all your Subaru accessory needs.
We look forward to working with you.
