 Driving
in a Winter Wonderland
by Amanda Virtanen
October 2002
Well folks, it's that time of year again. I
just turned my clock back and it's dark when
I'm driving home from work. This means one
thing - winter is coming! Here in Toronto,
winters can be very strange. Some years we
hardly have any snow and others it's piled
along the streets waist high. But whatever
we're in for, I know it's gonna be COLD.
It's important to treat your vehicle with
extra care during the winter time. Many people
just run from their houses and workplaces into
the warmth of their vehicles and tend to
neglect their four-wheeled friends more than
ever. Below are some important things to think
about when "winterizing' your car.
Under the Hood
How do you make your anti-freeze? Steal her
blanket.
But seriously, anti-freeze is probably the
most important of all fluids in the winter
time. Make sure it's topped up and up to
strength to prevent costly damage to your
engine block and/or radiator. Make sure that
your coolant can withstand winter
temperatures. This information should be
available on the packaging.
Make sure that you haven't fallen behind in
your oil changes. Many people have asked me,
"Should I be changing my grade of oil for the
winter?" Ellie, my '99 Acura 1.6 EL uses 5w-30
regularly and it's not necessary to switch
hers because it is already the thinnest grade
available. I advise you consult your owner's
manual for the recommended oil but generally,
there is no need to switch your grade of oil
in winter.
Many of my friends have Japanese Imports
and we all have those whizzy-wig high-input
air filters under our hoods. Basically, at a
high-rev there is a SLIGHT (not even
noticeable) increase in power - but mainly
just an increase in noise, making it sound
more powerful. These filters are NO good in
winter. It will feel like your car actually
has less power and these filters can actually
freeze as well. So, until the spring, looks
like we're all stuck with the factory filters.
I advise you remove yours as well, if you have
one.
Remember that a tune-up is incredibly
important at this time of year. Get your spark
plugs and wires (check ignition system)
checked and you may want to change your fuel
filter as well.
The Exterior
If you have winter tires, of course now is the
time to install them. Do you have nice looking
wheels? Remove them too. Make sure you give
your nice rims a really good clean before
storing them for winter. Pull out those $20
hub caps you have kicking around instead. Be
sure to check your tire pressure as well. I
hope you all do this at least once a week
anyhow, but I thought I'd reiterate.
If you have the clear-back lights on your
vehicle be sure to remove them as well. Most
of them don't have the quality of a regular
light assembly and just can't withstand the
harshness of winter.
Give your car a good wash. Make sure you
really put some elbow grease into this one,
because when winter comes the last thing most
people want to do is use a cold-water gushing
hose outdoors. If you can, at least every two
weeks in the winter, try to visit one of those
coin wash bays in your area and at the very
least, spray down the sides of your car to
remove any of that evil body-eating salt
that's dispersed around the streets all season
long. This will help prevent future rust
damage and make you feel better!
The Interior
Unless you have a heated garage, there are few
of us who actually clean the interiors of our
vehicles in the winter. So do this before the
weather gets too unbearable. Vacuum the cloth,
condition the leather, and polish the dash.
The Trunk
As winter driving increases your chances of
being stranded in a ditch somewhere, it's
always a good idea to be prepared, should the
unthinkable happen. Make sure you have a few
inexpensive items in your trunk that could
mean the difference between life and death.
Buy some flares, candles, matches, flashlight
and a blanket. It's also a good time of year
to make sure your cell phone (if you have one)
is always charged and with you wherever you
drive. Also, it's not a bad idea to keep a
small bag of kitty litter in your trunk, this
could get your out of somewhere if you are
stuck and need a small amount of traction.
The Reward
To reward your car on its wonderful winter
operation; successfully stopping on a dime,
avoiding crazy skids, etc. - wait for a nice
sunny, dry day in January to take your car out
and let her rip. After all, you don't expect
this Racer Chick to hibernate all winter, do
you?
Amanda Virtanen is
a 23 year old Web Producer and an automotive
enthusiast. She owns a jazzed-up 1999 Acura EL
named Ellie.
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