Rockingham Motors

Cold Weather Car Care & Winter Driving Academy

When the weather report reads a high of 12°F with some snow showers, you know you need to bundle up before heading outside. You know exactly how to keep yourself warm in these unbearable temps. You adjust your thermostat, you wear a few extra layers and maybe you even make some hot meals. How about your vehicle? Have you ever thought about what's happening to your car in the freezing cold? What about all the fluids, internal mechanics or the battery? 

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Most of our cars live outdoors. If they are lucky, they grab a space in our garages. Either, way, they are exposed to cold temperatures throughout the winter months. Even though we are about half way through the season, it never hurts to brush up on safer winter driving!  Here are just a few basic precautions to keep in mind while maintaining your car in the cold:

Clear off your windshield! Try your best to make sure your car is cleared of snow when possible. Leftover snow on the roof of your car can be unsafe to you AND other drivers on the road. Driving with a snow covered windshield or mirror is EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS and can cause an unwanted accident or even collision. Make sure to keep an ICE SCRAPER and/or DE-ICER SPRAY in your vehicle during the winter. Check the condition of your wiper blades and well as your window washer reservoirs. What kind of washer fluid do you use? Does it have an no-freeze component?

Be seen! Make sure to keep your headlights on in snow or sleet or any kind of other weather that alters visibility so other drivers can see you. Minimize the use of high beams or brights, particularly in heavy snow.

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Have your battery checked! Even though it's the middle of winter, it's NEVER too late. At a temperature of 32°F, your car battery can be up to 35% weaker...at 0°F, your battery could potentially be 60% weaker! Have a certified automotive technician test your battery's strength. This way, you will know if your battery can continue to start your car in the cold. DON'T WAIT, if you are suspicious, you don't want to get caught stranded in the cold due to a dead battery!

Brakes! A thin layer of ice is all it takes for some tires to slip. Keep in mind that you need twice the distance to stop a car on ice than you do on dry pavement. 

Consider your tires! In regions that see snow and ice every year, research and check out your options for appropriate tires. Do you need snow tires to get safely out of your driveway? Are all-season tires going to cut it all winter? Also remember to periodically check tire pressure. The sudden drop in temperature can cause some of the air to escape. The appropriate pressure for your tires should be on a sticker on the bottom on the driver side door OR in your glove box. 

Keep your distance! In the winter months, try to double the distance that you typically follow the car in front of you. This will allow you more time to brake and will eliminate the need for sudden braking, which can lead to skidding. 

Keep your wheels clean! In inclement weather, the roads pile up with salty slush that inevitably sticks to the under carriage of your car. Getting a car wash periodically throughout the winter helps reduce the amount of build up that can potentially wear away at your car's enamel and paint. Try to wash your cars on days that are warmer than 32°F.

And..most importantly...with your clean windshield and newly checked battery... GO SLOW. Speeding on icy roads in inclement weather conditions is not worth the risk!

If you haven't visited this website already, check out the Winter Driving Academy from Michelin! Follow the characters through quick tutorials. So get started! Click here --> Winter Driving Academy

 

Sources for post: Cold Weather Car Care Tips from the Auto Club

Winter Driving Clinic

This past weekend, two Rockingham employees participated in a winter driving clinic hosted by the SCDA at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The clinic allowed attendees to use their street cars to practice breaking and skidding exercises with a certified instructor in the vehicle. The recent blizzard that pounded New England last week created the perfect conditions for the clinic. A Toyota Tacoma and Honda CR-V were used for the day and had a great chance to slip and slide all over the place. 

The morning began with  a breaking exercise to help drivers understand the reaction of the car after an abrupt stop on snow & ice. Drivers also got the opportunity to practice breaking and turning with their wheels spinning over fresh snow.

Drivers were then teamed up with an instructor to take a few spins around the skid track. The idea behind this exercise was to understand how to steer your vehicle in a skid as well as how to correct under or over steering that could occur. 

The culmination of the course was laps around the "track", which was set up cones and included some sharp turns. The idea was to combine breaking and turning, all while remaining mindful of steering. 

The instructors all commented on the way the Honda CR-V handled in the snow and ice (or maybe it was the driver's awesome abilities??). This particular vehicle however IS presently equipped with Michelin snow/winter tires. They really proved themselves with their excellent grip, even on the icy turns on the track.  

As a New England resident, you are faced with all kinds of driving conditions due to the constantly changing weather patterns. It is important to know how your car operates in all types of weather (rain, sleet, snow, ice) in order to keep you as safe as possible. What kind of tires do you have on your vehicle? Are they equipped for snow? Does your car have traction control? How about ABS? Would you say you know the basics of winter driver?

Well if you do or don't check out this GREAT website from Michelin. Follow the animated characters through some different tutorials and test your knowledge! No matter how long you've been a driver, it never hurts to review!

http://www.michelinman.ca/winter-tire/2010/

Stay safe this winter, both ON and off the road. 

Winterize your vehicle

The temperatures outside are dropping and it's only early November. Even though we New Englanders trudge every year through long and hard winters, it always arrives before we are ready. Just as you would break out the winter clothes for warmth, or make sure your heater is functioning properly, you should prepare your car so you are safe when using your vehicle in inclement weather. Here is a guideline for evaluating your car. If you are unsure about your vehicle specifically or have more questions, feel free to send us a Tweet @RockinghamSalem! 

1. Anti-freeze- When was the last time you had your cooling system flushed? Should be every two years. Keep in mind the best ratio of anti-freeze to water is 50/50. A leading cause of breakdowns are coolant system failures..don't let this happen to you!

2. Spare- What's the condition of your spare tire? Do you have one? Make sure all the tools to change the tire are in your vehicle.

3.Tire pressure- When the temperature is cold, the air inside your tires contracts and forces the pressure to drop. Check the pressure when the temperature is cold and bring it up to manufacturer norms.

4. Brake- At best practice, checking your brakes should be done every six months. Make sure your brakes are in the best possible condition before winter.

5. Windshield wipers- Replace your blades twice a year and check your windshield washer fluid levels. Evaluate the possibility of using fluid with freeze resistant wiper fluid instead of normal washer fluid to avoid extra ice on your windshield.