Winter Car Care and Driving Tips
28 December 1998
Winter Car Care and Driving Tips That Save Money, Energy and Help the Environment
FAIRFAX, Va.--Dec. 28, 1998--Winter cold and snow create difficult operating conditions for you and your automobile.In addition to performing routine maintenance and using quality products, this is the season for extra preparation and care. What can you do to get through the nastiest of conditions?
"Cars don't like cold," said Bill Maxwell, manager of technical products support at Mobil's Technical Support Laboratory in Paulsboro, N.J.
"It's the time of year when all sorts of vehicle ailments crop up. Keeping your car properly maintained, tuned, and modifying your driving habits can save you money, reduce fuel consumption, and help the environment."
Here are Maxwell's tips to take the bite out of cold-weather driving that will help keep you safe and save money and energy during the winter season:
Routine Maintenance --
Make sure your battery and charging system are in good operating condition. A battery's cranking power is reduced significantly in freezing weather. Be especially alert if your battery is four years old or more. It may work well only when the weather is warm.
A good practice would be to carry a set of quality jumper cables at all times in the vehicle. There are also some portable power packs available for use in emergency starts.
Filters, Coolant and Hoses --
Make sure all filters -- oil, gas and air -- are in good condition. Check coolant and thermostat to ensure proper engine warm up, as well as heater and defroster operation. Coolant should be changed every two years, unless you're using the new types of coolants, like GM Dexcool, which last about five years. Check for leaking or soft hoses and replace.
Tire Pressure --
Check tires for excessive wear and proper inflation. Do not under inflate or over inflate your tires. Low pressure increases wear and increases fuel consumption while over pressure can reduce traction, especially in icy conditions.
Lubrication --
To ease engine start-up load during cold weather use a multi-viscosity oil such as Mobil 1 0W-30 or 5W-30, which helps provide car starts at temperatures down to 35 degrees F below zero or lower. The use of these low-viscosity oils not only speeds start up, but helps reduce wear of critical engine parts. The use of lower viscosity oils also helps improve fuel economy.
In cold weather - especially on short trips -- engines often do not warm up enough to volatilize the fuel completely, creating moisture and fuel build-up problems. Fuel which is not vaporized properly drains back into the crankcase and chemically attacks the engine oil especially in the presence of water.
Fuel dilution of the oil in the crankcase can go as high as 10 percent or more of the total volume in cold weather. Motor oil should be changed routinely to help prevent this excessive moisture and fuel build-up in winter conditions. Consumers can have their motor oil-related questions answered by calling Mobil's toll-free information line at 1/800/ASKMOBIL.
Vehicle Warm Up --
When starting a vehicle in cold weather allow the engine to idle for a few seconds before driving off to insure proper oil flow and lubrication. Do not allow engine to idle for a prolonged period after start up in cold weather. This practice wastes fuel and does not warm up drive train components. After starts, drive easily for several miles to ensure proper vehicle warm up.
Slow Down --
Do not exceed speed limits and keep safe driving distances. Unnecessary speed ups, slow downs and stops can decrease fuel economy by up to two miles per gallon. Avoid gas-wasting jackrabbit starts and pace your driving to help avoid the need for sudden stops which is especially critical during wet and icy road conditions.
Icy Windows and Locks --
Make sure you have window ice scrapers and de-icers available. Also, make sure your windshield wipers and front and rear defrosters are working properly. A de-icer for door locks is also useful, but a heated key can help when locks are frozen. There are some types of spray type traction aids for use in icy conditions that help when a vehicle is stuck.
Having a small shovel is also useful to dig out of the snow. "Your car will be a more dependable means of transportation throughout the winter if properly cared for," said Mobil's Maxwell. "If you take care of it, it will more likely take care of you. And it will do it for a lot less money."
Mobil Corp. is a leading oil, natural gas, and petrochemicals company whose subsidiaries have operations in more than 140 countries. The company markets gasoline in 28 states and the District of Columbia through 7,500 branded service stations. Mobil and its predecessor companies have manufactured high-quality lubricants and special products for more than 130 years.
For more news and information about Mobil, please see us on the World Wide Web at www.mobil.com/news.
