Preparing Your Mazda For Winter

Now that summer is beginning to turn to fall and the temperature outside is falling, it is a good time to begin preparing your Mazda for the winter. Cold weather can take a toll on your car. If you want to make sure inclement winter weather doesn't force you to be stuck on the side of the road with car problems you could have prevented, take the time to winterize your car now. Schedule a visit to Seacoast Mazda and have them take the necessary steps to winterize your car. If you don't, you could end up needing a tow truck to take your car to the shop and having to pay for expensive car repairs.

Get Some Basic Services

There are some basic maintenance services you should have done to your Mazda to prepare it for driving in winter weather. If you do them in advance, you can save yourself a lot of time, money and hassles. Failure to do basic winterization services now could end up causing you a major problem when the weather begins to get cold. Here are a list of services you should have the professionals at Seacoast Mazda perform on your vehicle before the cold weather catches you by surprise.

1. Get An Oil Change

If you have been driving your vehicle all summer long on the oil that is in it, the oil is probably dirty and has begun to suffer thermal breakdown. Getting your oil and oil filter changed flushes the dirt and debris out of your car's engine and puts a fresh, clean coat of lubrication on your sensitive engine parts. Plus, you may need to change the viscosity of the oil in your engine as the temperature begins to drop. Your service technician will be able to tell you what is the right viscosity of motor oil that you should use in your car in winter based on its age, mileage and how cold it gets in your region.

2. Check And Change Your Antifreeze

Your antifreeze or coolant has been working hard to keep your engine cool all summer long. By now it may have begun to get low and dirty and need to be replaced. A car's engine has to work extra hard during the winter, if it does not have the right amount of the proper coolant, it can overheat even in cold weather. As winter approaches, have your trusted service technician check, top off or change your car's antifreeze for you. Taking the time and spending a few dollars to get it done can prevent your car from having a major problem in the dead of winter that can leave you stranded on the roadside in the freezing cold.

3. Check And Change Your Windshield Wipers

Many people take their windshield wipers for granted. They don't consider that all the rain they had to deal with in the spring and the blazing hot summer temperature can cause them to begin to deteriorate when the cold weather, ice and snow begins to put pressure on them during the winter. Good visibility is particularly important when you are driving in winter. As the cold weather begins to hit, either you or your service technician should take a few minutes to assess your windshield wipers to make sure they are in good condition. The last thing you need is for them to fall apart while you are driving and prevent you from seeing clearly and causing an accident.

4. Check And Change Your Tires

Over the course of the summer, the thread on your tires can begin to get worn down. When the temperature drops and rain, snow and ice begin to fall on the roadway, you can begin to have problems with traction and it can take you a longer distance to stop your car. As winter approaches, you should have your local service technician check the depth of the thread on your tires and let you know if it is time to put on winter tires or put chains on your tires to help you to stop faster and easier. Failure to do so can cause you to slide on wet or icy roads and end up being in an accident in which you or someone else gets injured.

5. Have Your battery Checked, Charged Or Changed

Your car uses more charge from your battery to start in cold weather. Plus, it is very important to make sure it is not too old or is not leaking when the weather gets cold. That could prevent it from having enough charge to start your car, fire accurately or even cause it to die. That is not the type of problem you want when it is cold outside and you need to get to work, or get home. It is important that you check your battery thoroughly in winter. If you notice corrosion on it, clean it off with baking soda and hot water or a cola and a toothbrush while wearing gloves. Or just change the battery.

6. Have Your Radiator Hoses Checked

One of the most common repairs cars need each winter that causes them to be parked on the side of the road is a busted radiator hose. It would be wise for you to have your service technician feel by hand and otherwise check the radiator hoses or replace them before you try to drive with the radiator hoses you currently have. They tend to be the large hoses that go in the top and snake out the radiator's bottom. The problem is the lower hose tends to burst and replacing it on the street is a nightmare. Ideally, you should be proactive and replace them before they start leaking, cracking or feeling bulgy or squishy.

Contact Seacoast Mazda

Want to winterize your Mazda properly? Contact Seacoast Mazda and schedule a time to have the experts there winterize your vehicle. They can also help you to create an emergency kit to keep in your trunk.