Get your vehicles ready for Winter!

A Stitch in Time, Saves Nine!

With Labor Day just around the corner, it is hard to think that in a few months we could be seeing a white blanket of snow covering the parched grass that has seen little moisture at all this summer. Dust is out of control and it seems like it has been in the 90s pretty much everyday since June with this week is no exception. Here are some discount coupons available from our Honda and Downtown Service Depts.

It is time to make sure that this heat, that takes a big toll on your engines vital fluids, hoses, belts tires and battery, reducing your chances of breakdown when winter hits.

Fluids

Heat can be as hard on a vehicle as the cold. Fluids can break down in the intense heat, transmission fluid, Engine Oil, Brake Fluid, and anti freeze should all be replaced to give the components a fighting chance if we get a cold winter. 100 degree day will see Trans temps rise to around 200 degrees and a long hot summer will break down the lubricating properties of even the best quality fluids.

When getting your fluids changed, have the mechanic check for leaks. Hot fluids can often break down the gasket materials. Catch it in time and you might be able to use some of the aftermarket Stop Leak products. I have used White Shepherd, also known as Blue Devil and their stuff works well to rejuvenate dried, cracked and hardened rubber seals to a like new condition. With a Money back guarantee, you can't go wrong!

If you are putting away your vehicle for the winter you should fill the tank to 95% full with fresh fuel then treat the fuel with a Fuel Stabilizer such as Sta-Bil.

General Maintenance

Winter will always seek out a weak battery at the most inopportune time. Have your battery tested now. The Summer heat is bad for a battery, just as bad as the cold, they are like us, they like the moderate temps, not the extremes!

Tires wear quicker in when travelling on very hot asphalt and if you then travel on a dirt road with a hot tire, it can really age your tires quickly. Take the time to check all tires and make sure they are in good condition. It is a good idea to have winter and summer tires - Having spent many years living in Lake Tahoe where some monster snow storms can drop over 10 feet at a time, I have always had a set of studded tires for winter use. If we get some of those early rainstorms that then freeze solid at night, studded tires can be your new best friend!

A second set of rims is a good plan, Summer tires on one set of rims and Winter tires on the second set. If it is a mild winter, you can either change them over your self or bring them in to get switched when the weather turns. Winter tires are usually softer compound with studs or studless with "sipes" which is a process creating thousands of slits in the tread to allow the rubber to better grip the wet, snowy & icy roads.

Check you tire pressures regularly. Temperature changes will affect the pressure as will altitude. To reduce these changes, consider replacing the air with Nitrogen. It has larger molecules and is less resistant to pressure changes from temperature and altitude differences.
 

Most tires are filled with compressed air, which when dry consists of about 78 percent nitrogen, 21 percent oxygen, and 1 percent other gases by volume. Water vapor (humidity) can make up as much as 5 percent of the volume of air under worst-case conditions. Filling your tires with nitrogen mainly does two things: it eliminates moisture, and it replaces skinny oxygen molecules with fat nitrogen molecules, reducing the rate at which compressed gas diffuses through porous tire walls. That means, theoretically at least, that a tire filled with nitrogen retains optimal pressure longer, leading to more uniform tire wear and better gas mileage. The commonly quoted figure is that tires inflated to 32 psi get 3 percent better mileage than at 24 psi.

Brakes should be checked at least once a year. Don't wait until they start grinding as you will then not only need pads but rotors too.

Air Filters have been working extra hard this year with all of the dust, especially if you travel on any dirt roads. These should be checked and replaced regularly. A friend of mine lived near Mount St. Helens when it erupted - He was getting 10 miles to an air filter! The dustier the environment, the more often they need replacing.

Wiper Blades take a hammering in winter cold and summer heat - Replace before and after the summer

Timing belts are critical to look at. Made of rubber, they too suffer from a hot summer. They should be replaced every 60,000 to 90,000 miles. Failure of a timing belt will definitely ruin your day. When a belt brakes, the valves get together with the pistons and it is a free for all... Usually resulting in a complete engine replacement or rebuild. Remember - Timing is everything!

Winterizing Summary

• Are your tires in good condition - Do you need Winter Tires?
• Check / Replace your Engine Oil & Filter.
• Check/ Replace your Transmission Fluid / Filter if not a sealed unit.
• Check Tire Pressure regularly.
• If you have Four Wheel Drive, get it checked Before you need to use it.
• Have Belts and Hoses inspected - Replace as necessary
• Replace Wiper blades, Fill Wiper fluid reservoir with a anti freeze wiper fluid solution.
• Get your Battery and Alternator checked.
• Check your antifreeze - Flush system and replace every 24k to 2 years.
• Get your thermostat checked.
• Check / Replace your air filter.
• Check & top off your Power Steering fluid. Black or dark coloration indicates overheating and system needs to be checked for malfunction.
• Check Brake Fluid level, top off or if it is black in color, flush and replace and get your brakes checked for malfunction as this indicated overheating.
• Check your axle cases for leaks, if there are signs of seepage, you better get the fluid level checked.
• Get a set of tire chains.
• Put together a winter survival kit

Underriner Motors of Billings can perform all of these checks on all makes and models of cars and trucks for you at our Downtown Buick, Hyundai, Volvo Service dept (Service line 406 255-2380) or our Honda Service dept off Zoo Drive. (Service Line 406 255-2315) You also get a free Car Wash with your service!