In the majority of the country, winter means riding snowmobiles, ice fishing and snow festivals. Of course, winter also means shoveling driveways, holiday shopping and dangerous road conditions. That’s why it’s important to make sure your truck is ready for the winter.

Coolants

Since coolants help keep your engine from overheating, this is one of the most important items to take care of.

• Check the system, especially clamps and hoses, for leaks. Keep the coolant level at the “full” mark.
• Always use a high-quality coolant and additives from reputable suppliers.
• Check for an appropriate freeze point with a handheld refractometer (the most accurate), test strip or hydrometer. This measurement tells you if the glycol and water mix is correct, preventing freezing.
• Use test strips designed to test the key inhibitor levels for the coolant you’re using to ensure they’re preventing aeration, corrosion and cavitation. If in doubt, send a sample to a lab.
• Make sure your coolant is clear and free of debris.

Batteries

Cold weather keeps batteries from holding a charge, which often results in making it difficult to start your truck and ultimately reducing your battery’s life.

• Batteries come in starting, dual-purpose and deep-cycle options, so choose the correct battery for your needs.
• Routinely check the electrical system, clean the batteries and test and charge them.
• Prior to winter months, replace batteries that are 3 years or older.
• Spec batteries with adequate discharge capacity. If the vehicle’s use demands discharge at a consistent 20 to 30 percent, spec batteries that can offer hundreds of medium-duty cycles to ensure consistent performance.
• A battery’s recharge efficiency is reduced when cold, which strains the battery even more during the winter. You may be attempting to warm a cab with a battery that is not fully charged, leading to starting issues in the morning.

Tires

• Maintain proper tire pressure. Since tire pressure drops in cold weather, set the pressure prior to driving when the tires are at ambient temperature.
• If the tire is 20 percent below the recommended pressure, consider it flat. Remove it and inspect for damage.
• Avoid checking air pressure in below-freezing temperatures. Moisture in a tire, along with rushing air, may cause ice to quickly form in a valve core and cause a slow pressure leak. Valve caps help combat this problem.
• If you routinely drive in severe winter weather areas, use tires with a tread patterns built for those conditions.
• Use tire chains when necessary, especially when required by local law.
• Remove chains immediately after they’re not needed. Chains left on for extended periods will chip, pit and chunk tires, as well as cause road damage.

Other systems

• Air dryers need to be changed before winter to ensure that ice doesn’t cripple the vehicle’s air supply system.
• Use the correct oil viscosity for the climate. Check with engine makers or your oil supplier for cold-weather recommendations.
• When determining cold-weather viscosity, note that cold-weather oil performance is based on ambient air temperatures. Engines aren’t affected by wind chill values.
• In extreme climates, consider lower-viscosity 5W/40 oil that flows better in extreme cold temperatures – an important consideration if the truck sits up all night without idling.
• Don’t waste money on cold-weather oil additives. Oil manufacturers blend engine oils for cold-weather performance.
• Check your washer fluid and make sure you have enough de-icer/solvent solution to help defrost your windshield and keep the washer fluid jug from bursting due to freezing.

Need help getting your truck ready? Make an appointment at Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac of Murfreesboro’s service center today.

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