Your friends here at Loughead Nissan are bummed that summer is coming to an end, but we are also excited to make the turn into the fall season! Fall is the perfect season for automotive anything! Meaning, if you’re looking to slip behind the wheel of a new vehicle now is a perfect time! With brand new 2020 models hitting the lot and tons of amazing offers coming your way, Loughead Nissan is the place to be this fall. But fall is also a really important time for vehicle owners to get their vehicle in tip-top shape for the winter months ahead. If you’re not into the whole DIY stuff, we totally get it, that’s why we're here to do the hard work for you! All you have to do is schedule a service appointment and drop off your vehicle!
But for those of you who like getting your hands a little dirty, this week we have a ‘ready for winter’ checklist to help get you started on your fall maintenance...or at least have you schedule an appointment to get these services done! So take a peek below and be sure to stop into Loughead Nissan this month for all of your fall maintenance needs!
Battery Power:
- Making sure your battery is fresh is important. The experts say you should change your battery every 3 years, though you could get away with 5 depending on how much you drive...If you’re thinking to yourself “I can’t remember the last time I changed my battery,” it might be time to do so.
- Make sure the cables are not loose. With the engine off, see if the cables can slip free from the nodes. Don’t yank, but be firm.
- Check for corrosion, a white powder that forms around the nodes or clamps of your battery. You can clean this off using baking soda, water, and a toothbrush.
- It might cost you a little bit more but invest in a “winter blend” type of windshield wiper fluid. These tend to have more alcohol in them and less water so the chance of freezing is less.
- If your windshield washer fluid tank hasn't been flushed in a few years then it could use it! Be sure not to mix colors; most antifreeze is green, blue or yellow, but be sure not to mix colors.
- Checking your vehicle's oil is important. If you have not had an oil change in a long time, it might be time for one.
- Buy an emergency kit with cables, first aid kit, flares, battery-powered air compressor and other things that can prevent a minor inconvenience from becoming a major problem.
- Check the clarity of all your lights.
- Keeping the gas tank at half-filled can help prevent a fuel line freeze; so can that fuel-line antifreeze mentioned earlier.
- Tire pressure is important in the snow, be sure that your vehicle’s tires are to the correct PSI.
