Jan 12
22
Avoiding Winter Emergencies
Winter is officially here. Snow is beginning to blanket the higher elevations around Eugene, turning the hills, ridges and crags into a stunningly beautiful Winter Wonderland. Area snow parks will soon be brimming with recreating revellers indulging in 4-wheeling, snow shoeing, skiing and more. However, that beauty can conceal dangers for travellers that don’t exist during warmer seasons.
We won’t get into a winter weather survival discussion, but I can offer you some common sense tips that can make your trip, long or short, as safe and uneventful as possible.
Weather and Road Conditions Awareness
Make being aware of the weather and its impact on your planned route your first priority. Gather as much pre-trip info on expected conditions as possible. A satellite view of the area you’re travelling through is always a good idea. Add to that a Weather.com report for the closest cities or towns along the way, while adjusting an average of 3-4° Farenheit drop in temperature per 1000 feet rise in elevation. (Please note that formula is merely an approximation. Actual temperature drops can vary according to a number of atmospheric factors.)Then, don’t bank on the exact accuracy of those reports. It IS the weather, after all. It can change pretty quickly, especially around here.
Preparation
Regardless of whether your trip is a short or extended one, you should always have an emergency kit with you, and keep it easily accessible.Personal Items
Here are the emergency kit must-haves:
1. Mylar space blankets (1 for each person, or a minimum of 2)
2. Water
3. High-protein, high-caloric food (think body builder bars)
4. A decent first aid kit
5. Cell phoneThese are recommended for longer trips or trips that involve travel through remote areas:
1. Nylon rope or cord
2. A sharp pocket or hunting knife, camp tool and/or Swiss Army knife
3. A fire starting kit (kitchen matches with a couple bundles of dryer lint in a zip lock bag will do)
4. A roll of toilet paper (hey, it happens)If you are travelling with infants or small children, ALWAYS bring more food/snacks, drinks, diapers, formula, etc. than you realistically think you need.
An extra layer of warm clothing and/or a couple of really warm blankets can be really good to have on hand for those lesser or brief emergencies.
If anyone takes prescription drugs, make sure you have enough for an extra day or two.
Make sure someone knows your planned route and ETA. It’s best to put it in writing so there is no confusion. This is especially applicable for longer trips, but we have all heard on the news of how even shorter trips turned into tragedy. Also, on long trips keep someone periodically informed of your progress.
Auto Items
You should always carry a few auto emergency items in addition to your personal emergency kit. These are:
1. Jumper cables
2. Fix-a-Flat
3. HELP sign
4. A gallon of water for the car
5. FlaresAlso, make sure your jack and spare tire are in good order.
Your vehicle possesses some of the more preventable causes of winter weather emergencies. Below are the recommended checks:
1. Anti-freeze – check your mix with a tester. A 50/50 blend is sufficient for the valley and all but extreme conditions found at high elevations, northern plains or in especially bad weather. If you don’t have a tester, you can get one at any auto parts outlet, or we’ll check it for you.
2. Battery and charging system – cold weather is tough on car batteries, and it’s not much fun getting stranded due to a dead battery. We will gladly check yours to make sure it’s in optimal shape.
3. Oil and filter – an engine sustains less damage in cold start conditions if the oil is as clean as possible. It’s best to follow your manufacturer’s recommendations on type and frequency of change.
4. Tire treads – deeper treads grip and shed pack better than shallow treads. You get better traction and as a result improved safety. If you’re not sure how healthy your tread depth is, bring it in and we’ll check it.
5. Wiper blades – visibility is vital. Make sure your wiper blades are in top condition. If not, they are cheap and easy to replace yourself. Also, adding some de-icer to your washer fluid and treating all the windows and windshields with Rain-X will greatly reduce the amount of frost and ice you have to scrape. Just follow directions on the bottle. (Note: Be absolutely sure your windows are CLEAN before applying the Rain-X or you will have a mess.) It can take a couple of attempts to get it right if you’ve not done it before.
6. Vehicle lighting – inspect all your car’s lights: headlights, taillights, signal lights, fog/running lights, and even interior lights. It can be a good idea to carry a couple of spare bulbs and fuses. The most critical would of course be for headlights and taillights.
7. Belts and hoses – hopefully you’ve already had these checked recently, but if you haven’t this is the time to do so. It would be frustrating at best to get stranded on your trip due to a $10 belt or hose.
8. Cabin air filter – after the extra wet summer we had combined with our typically wet fall and now running the car’s heat on ‘high’ the cabin air filter can become a microbial breeding ground “broadcasting” into the interiors of our cars. It’s a good time to change the filters if you haven’t done so in the past year.
9. Paint and finish – winter mud and snow, plus salt, sand or crushed lava, can be terrible on your car’s exterior. Protect it with regular washing and a quality wax. When washing, don’t forget the under carriage and wheel wells where salt, sand and crushed lava rock can build up and/or corrode.
10. Brakes – also when washing hose out the brakes. The accumulation of sand and lava particulates can abrade and reduce the life of your brake system components.
That pretty much wraps up the info needed to help make your winter car travel safer and more pleasant.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns about your car, just call or come by. That’s what we’re here for.
– Jud and the Absolute Automotive crew
Posted in Auto Repair Eugene Car Care Tips by .
Many of us are guilty of at least a few of these top car-killing habits. Armed with a little knowledge, though, you can stop any ‘homicidal’ behavior you may be engaging in. Both your car and your wallet will thank you.
The list below is not in any particular order, just off the ‘top of my head’ from almost 12 years of observation and experience in the auto repair business.
1) Reactive maintenance, or only fixing something when it breaks, is a fast way to a short life for your vehicle. Remember that your vehicle is only a machine, and therefore must have regular preventative maintenance to avoid trouble, and this does not mean just oil changes. Listed below are several important items to look at frequently, which are included in our free 27 point inspection.
- Tire Pressures and condition, most overlooked issues in the business.
- Proper fluid levels as well as condition, engine oil, transmission fluid, transfer case fluid, differential fluid, engine coolant, washer fluid.
- Belts and hoses, starting to crack or harden spells potential disaster in the form of breakdowns.
- Battery, alternator, cables, connections, the complete charging system should be monitored for proper operation.
- All exterior lighting including headlamps, signals, tail and stop lamps, these are safety issues.
- Brake condition, fluid, antilock operation, very sophisticated systems that must be properly maintained for safety.
- Tune-up components including spark plugs, ignition wires, distributor cap and rotor if equipped.
2) Starting the car – Everyone knows that holding the key too long in the “Start” position can cause unneccessary wear on a starter, but just starting your car causes wear on vital parts. So avoiding excessive starting can help prolong the life of your car. For instance, try to avoid parking in a place or position that will require you to have to restart and move your car; avoid short, frequent trips – like for chips and salsa, or pizza pickup. Try to exercise a little foresight for the sake of your car.
3) Stop and go traffic – It is widely known that stop and go ‘city’ driving is rough on a car, but few of us seem to do much to counteract the effects. You can slow the rate of wear on the engine, fuel system, brakes and suspesion by simply using less aggressive driving techniques. Gentler starts and stops from traffic lights, coasting on exit ramps – just being kinder and gentler on your vehicle will help. When doing a lot of city driving, these small changes can really add up to extending vehicle life and savings on repairs.
4) Improper warmup – Years ago it was recommended to let your engine warm to the proper temperature before driving. These days that isn’t quite true. Yes, your car’s engine (and many other parts) will perform better when warmed to optimal operating temperature. However, because more damage is done to the car during this warmup phase, it is now recommended that you drive your car within seconds of starting it up, but with a caveat: be gentle, especially during that first startup in the morning. Gently ‘waking’ your 2-ton metal baby will keep it in better condition longer.
5) Allowing your fuel tank to run too low – Many of us, for a variety of reasons, run the fuel tank almost completely empty. You’ve probably heard this is bad for your fuel pump, and it is. Very low fuel causes the fuel pump to work harder and overheat. (It uses the fuel as coolant.) Very low fuel in the tank also increases the likelihood of moisture, deposits and oxygen making their way into your fuel line, which then clogs your fuel filter.
6) Using the wrong soap to wash your car – Surprised? Think about it: the paint job on your car is the most expensive step in the manufacturing process, and a quality finish can add up to 20% in value at resale time. Yet many people still use dishwashing soap to wash their cars. This is bad because not only does the dishwashing soap remove dirt and grime, it also removes a little of the clear coat each time you use it. Because a vehicle’s finish is such a valuable part of the overall car, it is worth the few extra dollars it costs to use a detergent specifically formulated for auto finishes. If you wax, and you should, it is recommended that you use the same brand as the detergent. It’s likely that the two were designed to work optimally together and provide better protection for your car’s finish.
7) Improper clutch action – In a car equipped with a manual transmission, releasing the clutch improperly places sudden pressure on the clutch disc, pressure plate, motor mounts, and other parts of the drive train. Pushing the clutch too far, not far enough, or riding the clutch at the point of engagement can cause these problems. Ideally, you should find a spot in the clutch travel that is just far enough for easy gear changes. Gauge your progress by how seamless your shifts are. If rear seat passengers cannot tell that that they are riding in a manual transmission car then you are changing gears properly.
8) Roll shifting – If you have an automatic transmission, a problem that commonly occurs (and works to shorten the life of the transmission), is not coming to a complete stop before shifting from reverse into drive or vice versa. Because you are reversing the flow of fluid while still under pressure, strain is placed on the valves. Simply coming to a complete stop before changing gears is a very small measure you can take to help prevent a costly transmission rebuild or even more costly replacement.
9) Using your parking brake – In a car with an automatic transmission, when the shift lever is moved into ‘Park’, a small pin is pushed into little teeth in the transmission output, locking it into place. When this pin is stuck in these teeth, the shaft cannot spin. The inertial mass of the car is now resting on that pin. If the car is parked on a completely level surface, very little pressure is being applied. What about an incline, though? Or what if you parallel park on a city street where your car is prone to bumps from other cars? That pin is the only thing keeping your car from running off with itself. By simply applying the parking brake when the car is at rest, the car has some backup support in the event that pressure is placed on the transmission, buying it valuable life. Your transmission, and probably your insurance company, will thank you.
10 ) Oil and fuel additives – Modern engine oils already contain extensive additive compositions that are within perfect harmony to offer maximum protection. To add additional formulas is to affect the chemical balance of your oil. They can strip away the very protection provided by your oil. Also, additives can convert into gaseous entities that harbor in the exhaust system and can eat away at it. You want to replace that awfully expensive catalytic converter? Also, in many states, current fuels are comprised of at least 10% ethanol, which helps your gas burner cleaner, and prevent petroleum buildup throughout the fuel system. Extra additives can significantly alter the ability of your fuel system to burn the fuel efficiently and effectively, causing more problems than they solve.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns about your automotive maintenance or repairs just call or come by. We’re here to help you get the most out of your car or truck or RV.
– Jud and the Absolute Automotive Crew
Posted in Auto Repair Eugene Car Care Tips by .
