23 Aug Is Your Car Fall-Ready?
Fall in Connecticut means cider donuts for breakfast and apple pies for dessert. It means shorter days and cool nights. It also means a bit more wind, more rain, and even the chance of ice and snow. Let’s get your car ready for fall so you can make all the trips to the pumpkin patch that your heart could desire!
Check Your Wiper Blades
Even if you haven’t been using your wiper blades much this summer, hot weather can actually speed up the wear and tear on your blades. Fall often means more windy and wet weather, so now is a great time to replace your blades. If your blades are streaky, smearing, have split rubber, squeaking, or “chattering” when you use them, it’s definitely time to replace them!
Check and Change Your Fluids
In areas like Connecticut where the temperatures change drastically between the summer and the winter, it’s especially important to check and change your fluids. When temperatures drop in the fall and winter, the fluids in your car become thicker which can cause them to move more slowly through the engine. In cold weather, make sure that your ratio of water to coolant is 40:60 (40% water to 60% coolant).
Check & Rotate Your Tires
Your tires should be rotated every six months or 6,000 to 8,000 miles. Even if you’re not someone who drives their car a lot, you should still be rotating your tires every 6 months. The fall and spring equinox can be good markers for you to remember to rotate the tires if you know you don’t drive 6,000 miles over a 6 month period.
Remember that in the fall there tends to be more rainy weather and it’s not unheard of to have ice and snow during a Connecticut fall. Now is a good time to check your tires to make sure your tires have the traction you need this time of year. If you’re curious about whether you need to replace your tires, you can check by inserting a penny into the treads of your tires. If you can see all of Lincoln’s head, then you know it’s time to replace the tire.
Finally, remember that when temperatures drop, the air pressure inside your tire will drop as well. Check your owner’s manual for the right psi (pound per square inch) for your car’s tires and fill your tires with air to that amount.
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