Preparing a Car for Winter Weather

As we plunge into the winter season, the threat of driving in hazardous road conditions is becoming more of a concern for people living in colder climates.  Driving on icy roads always comes with a number of inherent risks.  While you’re on the road, having some basic supplies handy can bail you out of some tough situations.  For example, having a container of a sand-salt mixture can give your tires the traction needed to get you out of that pesky snowbank that came out of nowhere!  Also, having your own set of jumper cables will greatly increase your chance of having a good samaritan give your dead battery some life.  Surprisingly, not many people carry a set of jumper cables with them.  If you’re stuck with a dead battery, prop up your hood (I like to call it a roadside SOS) and a passerby is sure to stop and offer you a helping hand.

No matter how keen or careful we may be while driving, there sometimes lies a problem from within waiting for the worst possible time to afflict our car.  To the naked and untrained eye, belts are fraying, batteries may be on their deathbed and essential fluids may be long gone.  It is curious as to why our car saves up a failure just for the time when we are 16 miles from the comforts of our home and stuck in 20 degree weather with nothing but a dying cell phone and half of a three day old burrito from taco bell.  Before we might find ourselves in this situation, we should consider some helpful ways of preparing a car for winter weather. To address this simple, yet important question, I decided to call my local mechanic to seek the wisdom of the expert: What is the best way of preparing a car for winter weather?

I was able to meet with Doug Stacey, owner and manager of Muffler Brother’s in Bellbrook,Ohio to address this concern.  For a number of years, our family has trusted this particular auto repair shop to care of our cars.  And they have never failed us.  According to Doug, “The best thing that you can do is find a shop that you can trust, develop a rapport with them, going there on a regular basis with them to take care of most problems”. The advantage of having a mechanic that you can trust is that they will not only develop a relationship with you, but come to know your car as well.  As members of the military community, our busy lives need a reliable set of wheels!  When moving to a new base, one of the things on your to-do list should be to find yourself a good mechanic.  During my time with Doug, he shared some good tips to help yourself find a good mechanic.  In the video referenced below, Doug personally explains some ways that you can find yourself a reliable mechanic.  After you have found a solid mechanic, they will work with you to prepare your car for the winter season.

In all of the years that Doug has worked with us, he has truly appreciated the military by granting us military discounts.  So when you are looking for your trusty mechanic, be sure to ask if they offer military discounts!  A great article that I have referenced to quite a few times can be found at weather.com.  They provide information about safe driving techniques as well as mention some of the things that your mechanic will check for you.  Drive safe!