Winter Car Maintenance in Ohio

When the temperatures drop and the white stuff flies, it’s time to make both sure you and your car are ready for winter driving conditions. The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), an independent group that certifies the competence of auto technicians, has published several documents that outline maintenance recommendations for winter driving. We have broken down their maintenance recommendations into three general groups: Maintenance items that you can do yourself, Maintenance items that a handy DIYer can do, and, lastly, Maintenance items for a professional service person to do.

What maintenance can I perform myself to get my vehicle ready for winter?

• Clean the plastic covers over your headlights, taillights, and directional on your vehicle. If you find any burned out bulbs, bring your vehicle into Fred Martin Superstore to have them changed.
• Make sure you have your vehicle registration and insurance information in your glove box and easily accessible.
• Assemble a “Winter Emergency Kit.” Suggested items are an ice scraper; a flashlight with fresh batteries; extra gloves, boots, and blankets; old-style or electronic flares; a small shovel. If you have young children, a few extra Energy Bars and drinks might be a good idea too!

I am a DIYer, what additional things can I do to get my vehicle ready?

• Add a bottle of deicer to your gas tank to help keep moisture from freezing in the tank and fuel lines. Another thing: keeping your gas tank filled during the winter also helps prevent moisture from forming and then turning to ice.
• Unless you have new windshield wiper blades, replace your existing ones. If you are doing this, it’s not a bad idea to spend a few extra dollars and get rubber-clad (winter) blades.
• Top off your windshield washer fluid with a good brand of washer fluid. In other words, don’t add tap water!
• Check the tire pressure in all four tires and inflate them if needed.
• Check that your spare tire is in the vehicle, and the jack is easily accessible.

What things can I have Fred Martin Superstore do to get my vehicle ready for winter?

• Have a technician inspect and replace dirty air, fuel, and other filters.
• Have a technician check your oil and oil filter as specified in your manual.
• Have a technician inspect your cooling system. This generally involves a visual inspection of drive belts and checking the condition of the anti-freeze solution.
• Worn tires are especially dangerous in winter weather. Have a technician examine tires for remaining tread life and uneven wearing. Rotate as recommended.
• Have a technician inspect your brakes for safety.

Get your car ready for winter with Fred Martin Superstore