Car Care
Preventative maintenance is essential for your safety and the longevity of your vehicle. It should include the following:
Replace the air filter when it becomes dirty or as part of a tune up.- Check the brake fluid monthly.
- Inspect belts and hoses. Replace worn or frayed belts. If a hose is looking worn out or feels too soft or too hard, it‘s time to replace it.
- To maintain the peak performance of your vehicle, have your oil changed every 5000 kms or 3 months, whichever comes first.
- Check the transmission fluid on a monthly basis. Do this with the engine warm and running, and the parking brake on.
Winter Car Care
The cold weather affects your car and tires. Along with making driving more hazardous due to ice and snow, extreme winter weather can be stressful on the driver and there is many precautions to follow to help make you winter driving experience a safe one.
SNOW tires will give you extra traction, braking and handling you'll need to confidently drive on snow and ice. They have specialized rubber compounds and tread designs to handle the cold temperatures
Every day take a moment to listen to weather and traffic reports. Stay off the road when the conditions are too hazardous. If you must travel when roads are bad, it is important to know your vehicle and use extreme caution.
Click here for Ontario driving conditions
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/traveller/conditions/index.shtml
- Check Wiper Blades
- Make Sure the Battery is Strong
- Emergency Car Care Kit
- Clean the Engine Air Filter
- Pay Attention to Oil Grade
- Have a basic tuning-up
- Protect against freeze ups. Don’t forget about antifreeze/coolant
- Keep an Eye on Tire Pressure
Under-inflated tires create extra friction where the rubber meets the road. Improperly inflated tires also wear unevenly, which can impact your vehicle’s traction on the road and possibly lead to a dangerous blowout. Check your tire pressure regularly and make sure all of them are filled to the correct level and remember your spare tire, which can lose pressure in the cold.
Proper tire pressure is vehicle-specific. Tire pressure information for a vehicle is found on a decal typically in the vehicle’s door or in the owner’s manual.