Your Car—Braced For Cold Weather? (NAPSA)—If you hate cold weather, imagine how your car feels. Fortunately, most preparation is very simple to do and costs very little. The first step is to be aware of the age of two key car functions, report experts at Jiffy Lube. Battery And Radiator Check The two-year mark is an important anniversary for both the battery and radiator system. Safe battery service and inspection should be part of routine maintenance. Batteries that are 24 monthsor older should be monitored for warning signs such as sluggish starting and the accumulation of a corrosive powder on and around the terminals. These are warning signsof corrosion and age, but it may fail even without such indications. Average battery life can range from about 3 years up to 4 or 5 years. And the antifreeze/coolant in some cooling systems may not provide adequate protection past the two-year mark, so it may need to be replaced. Windshield Washer Fluid Tip Speakingoffluid, if you are one of the many that mixes water with windshield washer fluid during the summerto savea little money, you may have a big mess on your hands when the temperature drops below the freezing mark. It is also important to makesureall fluid levels are topped off prior to a deep freeze. Good Gas Tank Manners If you keep your gas tank closer to empty insteadoffull, you could be in trouble, suggests Lucille Treganowan, the spokeswomanfor Jiffy Lube and oneof America’s most trusted car care authorities. “By keeping more gas in the tank, you can help avoid the formation of condensation in the gas tank that occurs when temperatures fluctuate widely as ie ig 2 A APWG i Nea = @ MEMORY JOLT—Batteries that are 24 months or older should be monitored for warning signs such assluggishstarts. they do during the winter months. This condensation drips down into the gas and can freeze and/or prevent the car from starting.” Look At Lines And Hoses Cold weather can also cause lines, hoses and other parts to becomebrittle and break, causing some larger problems down the road. If you are unsure what to look for under the hood, take your vehicle to a convenient auto service center, such as Jiffy Lube. Along with changing the oil, following manufacturer’s recommendations, they will check the level of other vital fluids like antifreeze/coolant, transmission, brake, differential oil, power steering and windshield washer. They will also check on the condition of such devices as belts andwiperblades. Now that you have made sure that your engine will be on your side even if the weather isn’t, it may be goodto give it a good wax before your city begins using rock salt on the road. And during a trip to the supermarket, buy a bag of your own rock salt to keep in the trunk in case of an overnight sleet. You never know whenit will come in handy. For more car care tips, visit www.jiffylube.com.
