For anyone living in a northern
state, Winter means rain, sleet, slush, snow and ice. Driving along icy roads is
tricky at the best of times, and there's not always a plow available to get
your road clear in time to go to work for the day. Why not make your life a
little easier now, by preparing your conversion van for the coming winter? You
can do many small things before the snow starts to fall to make your winter
that much easier to handle.
1. Get an oil change. Specifically, get the right sort of oil change. Oil won't
freeze in the kind of temperatures we see in the north, but it will get
thicker. Thicker oil does a worse job of keeping your engine lubed up, which
means more wear and tear on the moving parts you definitely don't want to
replace. Dirty oil gums up even worse, so get that oil changed before the
temperatures drop.
2. Take steps to ensure visibility at all times. The most important and most
neglected fluid for visibility is windshield washer fluid. Topping up that tank
will save you plenty of headaches when you have to scrape frost off the glass
or wait for a heater to melt it. A blast with wiper fluid and a few passes of
the wipers will clear it right up. It helps if you clean your windshield inside
as well. Of course, you should also have a good snowbrush and ice scraper
stored away in the trunk or back seat.
3. Perk up your battery. The cold and wet conditions of a typical winter can
wreak havoc on a battery. Connections will corrode and the batter may lose the
ability to hold a charge. The older a battery is, the more likely you'll run
into issues along the way. Most auto shops can test your battery's ability to
hold a charge, and can tell you if you need a new one. Get it looked at before
you end up stalled on the side of the freeway.
4. Check the belts and hoses in your engine. Belts and hoses are made of rubber
and plastic, which tend to get brittle as they age. The addition of road salt
and icy water splashing up onto them only makes the process faster. Take your conversion
van in to have it services and pay special attention to the belts and hoses, so
you don't end up dropping fluid or finding a snapped belt while you drive.
5. Monitor your tire pressure. In wet and icy conditions, traction is key to
keeping your conversion van on the road. Your tires are made to function best
at a certain level of inflation, which varies depending on the tire. As the
temperatures get colder, the pressure of the air in your tires will drop, at
about 1 PSI per ten degrees. Keeping your tires inflated properly keeps them
working as best they can.
6. Switch to snow tires, if applicable. Snow tires aren't for everyone. If you
live in the middle of the city and the roads are plowed several times a day,
you probably don't need a lot of extra traction from your tires. On the other
hand, if you live in an area with plenty of hills and the plows come few and
far between, winter tires might be a good option.
7. If you have four-wheel drive in your vehicle, test it out. Make sure the
system engages smoothly. Since you probably don't use the system much during
the summer, it might have an issue that you don't notice. Better to get it
tested now than to discover it doesn't work when you need it. Don't forget to
make sure that anyone driving your vehicle knows how to turn the system on and
off. For new drivers experiencing their first winter in their parents'
conversion van, this can be all new.
8. Check your engine coolant. Most conversion vans run on something between
pure antifreeze and a half and half mixture of antifreeze and water. Diluted
antifreeze is perfectly fine. It would take ridiculously low temperatures to
freeze even a half and half mixture, so there's no sense in wasting half a
gallon of coolant when you don't need it. You can test the mixture of
antifreeze yourself, or take it to a mechanic. Check to see if your vehicle
uses a special kind of antifreeze as well. Just remember that if you replace
your antifreeze yourself, you need to dispose of the old coolant properly. It's
harmful to the environment and illegal in most places to pour antifreeze down
the drain.
9. Stock up on supplies and put together an emergency kit. In the event that
something breaks and you're stranded, having an emergency kit is a lifesaver.
Here's an idea of what you should have in your kit:
- Blanket, boots, gloves and warm clothes
- Emergency food and water
- A snow brush, ice scraper and a small shovel
- A flashlight with spare batteries and a set of road flares
- Windshield wipers and extra fluid
- Repair items like jumper cables, a tool kit, a tire pressure gauge and a spare tire
- A first aid kit
10. Don't forget your training.
All the tools and supplies in the world won't help you if you don't know what
to do when you're broken down. If you're likely to be stranded for an extended
period, light flares for the front and back of your vehicle. Run the engine and
heater only for short durations to save gas. Wear your warm clothes to keep
warm instead. To prevent your conversion van from freezing shut, crack the
window slightly. If you have hard candies with you, you can munch on them to
keep your mouth from drying out. Of course, make sure you have contact numbers
and a way to call for help if you do end up stranded.
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