Rent-A-Wreck Winter Car Care Tips

(8/3/05) Owings Mills, MD – For Rent-A-Wreck, a company that specializes in renting new and used cars, maintaining a fleet of mechanically sound vehicles is the cornerstone of their success. Each Rent-A-Wreck car, truck and van is part of a company wide maintenance program, a time tested system designed to ensure the safety and optimum functioning of its cars. With winter fast approaching and temperatures dropping, Rent-A-Wreck is pleased to share some of the tried and true tips for preparing a car for the winter that have served the car rental company so well during its thirty plus years.

Replace worn windshield wipers and refill the wiper fluid reservoir. Sometimes the simple things are the most important, and with worn wipers that are not making even contact with the windshield glass, being able to see the road in front of you with snow falling or even a heavy rain becomes difficult. Special winter wipers with ice guards have become popular in recent years, especially in colder weather climates, and they do a good job keeping the windshield clear in harsh weather. However, these winter wipers are heavier than regular wipers and should be switched in the spring to avoid excess wear of the wiper motors. Going along with the wipers, wiper fluid is very important, especially when roads have been treated with salt or chemicals that wind up being splashed onto windshields, resulting in clouding glass that becomes more opaque with increased exposure. It’s not unusual to use a half gallon of fluid during a lengthy drive during a snow storm. Top off your supply after Thanksgiving and keep what’s left in the bottle in the trunk for a mid-winter refresh.

Inspect all tires and replace where necessary. Even in small amounts, snow or ice cause tires to barely grab the road, making worn down tread especially dangerous. Snow tires provide the best handling and control in winter weather, and are a worthwhile investment for vehicles that must be driven before streets are plowed or for areas where snowfalls are a frequent occurrence in the winter months. For those in areas where snow is an occasional nuisance, all weather radials will suffice as long as they are in good shape. Be sure to check all tires for proper inflation; owners manuals and the inside drivers side door contain proper inflation levels.

Test and replace coolant/anti-freeze. Anti-freeze testers can be bought from auto parts stores for less than five dollars. The testers are simple to use and the actual test is over in just a moment. If the test indicates that your coolant/anti-freeze needs to be replaced, do so immediately to avoid a car calamity. Frozen coolant lines will expand and burst an engine block. A complete flush and refill with 50% anti freeze / 50% water will keep your engine cooling lines free of ice in the winter and remove rust and dirt particles that effect the cooling system in the summer as well. In very cold climates where temperatures drop to less than 34 below zero, a mixture of 70% antifreeze and 30% water is necessary.

Routine maintenance including replacing worn parts like hoses, belts, water pumps, spark plug wires and distributor caps becomes even more important in the winter when freezing conditions and cold weather can hasten their deterioration. Check under the hood for cracked rubber on hoses and for slack and damage to belts that drive the engine, alternator, air conditioning and fan.

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