Fluids,
Diligence Keys to Car's Winter Health
(ARA) - Fill 'er
up with, uh, chicken soup?
Okay, not quite,
but as you prepare for the winter driving season, those
who make a living driving Ford race cars suggest you should
remember to treat your car like you would treat a sick friend:
by paying strict attention to those all important fluids.
And, by keeping a
wary eye on the temperature. Because, just like that sick
friend who is running a fever, your car can -- and will
-- overheat in cold weather.
"The first thing
that comes to mind is making sure your anti-freeze is good
to go," says Mark Martin, a driver in the NASCAR NEXTEL
Cup Series since 1988 and owner of a Ford dealership in
Batesville, Ark.
That's good advice
according to Ford factory-trained technicians, who suggest
your car's coolant not only be checked, but, for most cars,
flushed and re-filled every couple of years. Improper car
care can be devastating in cold weather.
Dale Jarrett, another
Ford NASCAR driver and owner of a Ford dealership in Indian
Trail, N.C., says that an engine low on fluids can be severely
damaged on those frigid mornings.
"Take the time
to make sure your engine has all the proper fluids in place
because you don't realize that on those very cold mornings
how you can scar the engine, and do something that's going
to create a problem down the road for you," says the
1999 series champion. "So, just taking it in and getting
that maintenance done that you need to have done before
wintertime arrives is important. It doesn't take long. It's
just a necessary trip everyone needs to make."
Ford recommends that
consumers take an active role in fulfilling consistent prescribed
maintenance, which would include oil changes every five
months or 5,000 miles; checking fluids -- transmission,
brake, power steering, windshield wiper and the like --
to ensure proper fill; and, having your battery tested often.
Ford racer Greg Biffle,
the only NASCAR driver in history to win championships in
both the Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series, emphasizes
that winter is a stressful time for any car, new or used.
And, that can be stressful for you, the car owner.
"One thing you
find that winter will do to your car is make it not want
to start," he says. "Unfortunately, there's not
a lot you can do about it -- other than have a good battery.
"Winter seems
to bring out the worst in everything. Belts, and things
like that, they get so cold. Obviously, the most important
thing is have proper anti-freeze in the car so you don't
have a freezing problem. If you have any weak belts or hoses,
it seems like winter's the time those things break. And,
you need to make sure the heater works well. You know, basic
stuff. Anti-freeze is first off, though, because if stuff
freezes up and breaks, then you're in a world of trouble."
As a professional
race-car driver, Jarrett also know the importance of proper
tire maintenance. "Obviously, when we get into a wintertime
situation, the chances of the roads not being as good are
there, so you need to make sure that you have good tires
on your car," he says.
Ford factory-trained
technicians recommend checking not only the tire's tread,
but air pressure, too.
Additionally, take
nothing for granted and remember to remember, says Biffle.
"People just
think, 'Oh, it's okay. It was okay last year. It's going
to be okay this year,'" says Biffle. "Or, they
forget that they worked on their car last summer. I've had
that happen to me.
"The next thing
you know, you're alongside the road filling up your radiator
with fluid. People just overlook the basic one thing, and
it's the one that'll cost you the most.
"If your car
doesn't start, it's not going to cost you a lot of money.
But, if it freezes and breaks the block and the radiator
and other things, that is the one thing that is going to
cost the most money, and it's the most basic one to check
and prevent -- and a lot of people overlook it."
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