Streetwise Automotive

Car Care, Tips, Advice

Remember the legendary service station or garage, when they knew you by name and they took that extra special care with your car?  You don't have to go far to find that same special care at Streetwise Automotive, where Steve looks after your car with the utmost care.

Once a month, you should perform the basic checks to help identify problems that can cost fuel harm the environment and most importantly decrease overall performance.

Five Part 10 minute Check-up

1. Check all fluids, including engine oil, power steering, brake and transmission fluids, windshield washer solvents and antifreeze/coolant.
2. Check hoses and belts.
3. Check the tires, tire inflation and also check the treads for uneven wear. Look for bulges and bald spots.
4. Check lighting.
5. Check wiper blades and make sure the windshield wiper blades are working properly.

Helpful Hints For Winter

Keep your headlights clear with car wax! Just wipe ordinary car wax on your headlights. It contains special water repellents that will prevent that messy mixture from accumulating on your lights - lasts 6 weeks.

Squeak-proof your wipers with rubbing alcohol! Wipe the wipers with a cloth saturated with rubbing alcohol or ammonia. This one trick can make badly streaking & squeaking wipers change to near perfect silence & clarity.

Ice-proof your windows with vinegar! Frost on it's way? Just fill a spray bottle with three parts vinegar to one part water & spritz it on all your windows at night. In the morning, they'll be clear of icy mess. Vinegar contains acetic acid, which raises the melting point of water---preventing water from freezing!

Prevent car doors from freezing shut with cooking spray! Spritz cooking oil on the rubber seals around car doors & rub it in with a paper towel. The cooking spray prevents water from melting into the rubber.

Fog-proof your windshield with shaving cream! Spray some shaving cream on the inside of your windshield & wipe if off with paper towels. Shaving cream has many of the same ingredients found in commercial defoggers.

De-ice your lock in seconds with hand sanitizer! Just put some hand sanitizer gel on the key & the lock & the problems solved!

Winter Car Care Tips

1. Get the right kind of oil change - Full service for your vehicle should be done every 50,000km. If it is approaching, don't procrastinate! Among other things, the service should include an oil change, and the oil used should have the right thickness for your vehicle at this time of year. Oil tends to thicken as it gets colder, and if it's too thick it won't do the best job of keeping your engine lubricated. Check your owner's manual for guidance about which oil to use in different climates and temperatures.

2. Make sure you can see – When was the last time you replaced your windshield wiper blades? They usually work effectively for approximately a year, so be sure to invest in some new ones if you're due. Also, make sure to fill up your windshield washer reservoir with windshield washer fluid. (Plain water won't do the trick at this time of year because it freezes.) Also, check to see that your heater and defroster are both working properly so you can keep the windshield nice and clear.

3. Give your battery a little TLC – This is an ideal time of year to make sure your battery's posts and connections are corrosion-free and that your battery has all the water it needs. If your battery is more than three years old, have a certified repair shop test its ability to hold a charge, to save you the hassle of finding someone in a winter storm to help boost your car.

4. Examine your belts and hoses – When you have that full service done on your vehicle, make sure the belts and hoses get checked for wear and tear, even if you're driving a modern car. Cold weather can do a number on belts and hoses, so they deserve attention.

5. Check your tire pressure – Your tires must be properly inflated to ensure you'll have the best possible traction as you drive. Traction is often jeopardized in wet, snowy or icy conditions. The air pressure in your tires has likely dropped as the weather has gotten colder, so it's important to see where things stand now. Again, your owner's manual will tell you what your tire pressure should be.

6. Think about switching to snow tires – If you live in a hilly place that gets its fair share of snow, then you might want to improve traction even more by investing in winter tires and using them over the next few months instead of your usual all-season tires. When shopping around for snow tires, ask about all the fees that might come into play, such as fees for mounting and balancing.

7. Do you have four-wheel drive? – If so, it's important to check the status of your four-wheel-drive system and be sure it's working correctly — especially because most drivers don't use their 4WD systems in the summer months. Be sure that the system engages and disengages easily, and that all drivers in your household know how and when to activate the system.

8. Get the antifreeze mixture just right – Aim for having a 50-50 mix of antifreeze (coolant) and water inside your radiator. This will prevent the mixture from freezing even at ridiculously cold temperatures. It's easy to check the status of the mixture with an inexpensive antifreeze tester, which you can pick up at any auto parts store. If the mixture is off, your cooling system should be drained and refilled or flushed. Be sure you're equipped to dispose of your old antifreeze properly, if you do this job yourself. It can't just be poured down the drain.

9. Prepare an emergency kit – Store this stuff in your trunk during the winter months, especially if a road trip is in your future:
 • a blanket
 • extra boots and gloves
 • an extra set of warm clothes
 • extra water and food
 • an ice scraper
 • a small shovel
 • a flashlight
 • windshield washer fluid
 • windshield wipers
 • flares
 • jumper cables
 • a tool kit
 • tire chains
 • a tire gauge
 • a spare tire with air in it
 • tire-changing equipment
 • a first-aid kit
 • paper towels
 • a bag of abrasive material such as sand, salt or non-clumping kitty litter, which can
   provide additional traction if a tire gets stuck in snow.
 • Also, keep the gas tank as full as you can to prevent the gas lines from freezing.

10. Know what to do if you get stranded – Don't wander away from your car unless you're completely sure about where you are and how far away help is. Light two flares and put them at each end of your vehicle. Put on the extra clothes and use the blanket to stay warm. If you have enough gas in the tank, run the engine and heater for about 10 minutes for each hour you're waiting for help. Leave at least one window open a little bit, so that snow and ice don't seal the car shut. Suck on a hard candy to prevent your mouth from getting too dry.