With the cold winter months quickly approaching here in the Northeast, you don’t want to be stranded on the side of the road when your car decides it wasn’t ready for this weather. Imagine sitting next on the side of the AC Expressway on a cold day, waiting for help. Doesn’t sound pleasant, does it? If you’ve ever done this and don’t want to repeat, or just want to learn from other’s mistakes, make sure you’re prepared. If your car is getting older, now may be the time to look for cars for sale in NJ and not have to worry at all. Before winter starts, make sure your car is serviced properly, or this could lead to trouble.
1. Make sure you have the right kind of oil
Oil tends to thicken as the weather gets colder, so you need to make sure your oil has the right viscosity for your car during the coldest parts of the year. Your owner’s manual should have some information on what types of oil to use for the climate and temperature here in New Jersey.
2. Check your battery
If your battery is more than three years old and you should be considering a new one anyway, now is the time to do it – don’t wait for it to die on the coldest day. If you’re not sure, take your car to a repair shop – they can test it to see how well the battery is holding a charge.
3. Have the right amount of antifreeze
Antifreeze is essential to making sure your car is functioning properly. Make sure you have a 50-50 mix of antifreeze and water in your radiator. You can test your levels by picking up a cheap tester at any parts store. If the mixture is not right, your cooling system should be drained and refilled.
4. Check all your car’s belts and hoses
Cold weather is notoriously rough on the materials that the belts and hoses in your car are made of. Make sure it’s all working properly and nothing is wearing out. If your car is getting old and you haven’t replaced much yet, this could spell trouble for you this winter.
Aside from your car running well, make sure you can control it well – check your tire pressure (or consider winter tires); check the four-wheel drive system if you have one, and make sure you can see with new wipers. In case something does happen, make sure you have an emergency kit in the car.
If you’ve just read through this and think your old car needs all of this and you still want to find a list of the most thorough roadside emergency kit ever, it’s definitely time to start looking for cars for sale in NJ before the cold hits. Don’t get stuck this winter – make sure you’re ready!
Patrick Whalen is a part of an elite team of writers who have contributed to hundreds of blogs and news sites. Follow him @2patwhalen.