AutoZone Offers Five Quick Ways to Get Your Car Ready For Winter
10 November 2000
AutoZone Offers Five Quick Ways to Get Your Car Ready For WinterMEMPHIS, Tenn., Nov. 10 Freezing temperatures will soon be in the forecast, and studies show three out of four vehicles on the road are vulnerable to wintertime damage. Unfortunately, most vehicle owners don't realize how damaging last summer's heat was to their vehicles. After months left unchecked, antifreeze loses its effectiveness, belts and hoses dry out and seasonal temperature changes can make moisture collect in the fuel system. "Don't let this warm autumn fool you," says Lesley Hartney, AutoZone's vice president of communications and training. "The first big winter blast is right around the corner, and motorists don't need to be caught off guard." Here are five easy steps drivers can take to prepare their cars for the colder temperatures: 1. Flush and refill your radiator with a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water. 2. Check your belts and hoses for signs of wear. Squeeze radiator and heater hoses to make sure they're firm yet flexible, and replace any hose that feels mushy or brittle. Also, check the underside of all belts and replace any that are cracked. 3. Use a fuel system dryer to prevent moisture from freezing in your fuel line. 4. Replace your radiator cap and thermostat every three years or 50,000 miles. 5. Check your windshield wiper blades for cracking. Dry, hot summers break down the rubber strips in your wiper blades, but they can be easily replaced.