DO THIS TO DODGE AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR TO YOUR EUROPEAN AUTO
Winter is a sad time for a lot of drivers. Snow, ice, sleet, bad drivers, and a host of other concerns are enough to make you forget about getting your European import ready for winter, choosing instead to put it in the safety of the garage until spring. No one wants the expense of European auto repair. Little do these owners realize, however, that driving in winter is no harder on their car than summer use as long as they have their import ready for cold weather.
Europe is by its nature a cold continent. Get away from the Riviera or the Mediterranean Sea region and you’ll find some of the harshest weather on the planet. Is it any wonder then that the luxury cars born of this climate are ready for inclement weather? Of course not so why put that baby away for the winter when you can let it thrive instead?
Winter care for your European import should start in the glove compartment, and a once over of the owner’s manual. This tome of knowledge will tell you exactly what the manufacturer sets as the basic maintenance to get the machine ready for winter. Often overlooked in this are two basic, and vital, elements of keeping any car on the road: motor oil and coolant.
If you delve deeply enough into your owner’s manual you’ll find a listing of the proper fluids to use in your auto, i.e. motor oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, etc. You might be surprised to find that different fluids are recommended for different seasons. While most new cars operate in warm weather using 10W-40 weight motor oils thinner oil is a good bet in winter months. Switching to a 10W-30 or 5W-30 oil means that the oil is slightly thinner than its summertime counterpart, and as such will begin to flow more easily through your engine during a cold start. While this difference doesn’t seem like much it’s something that can save significant wear and tear on your engine. During cold starts the surfaces inside your engine are protected by on a thin film of oil. Until the oil at the bottom of the engine starts flowing your engine is subject to the most damaging friction forces it will see in its lifetime. The switch to thinner oil will get that lifeblood flowing faster and reduce unnecessary wear.
The radiator has special needs in winter weather as well. In summer months it’s ok, and sometimes advisable, to replace some of your car’s coolant with plain water. Most coolant solutions actually work better when mixed with water. But when winter rolls around overlooking what’s under the radiator cap can be a death sentence to your auto. At temperatures below freezing that water will start to freeze and expand. In a worst case scenario your engine will fill with ice and at the very least push out freeze plugs, leading to downtime and a trip to the shop. If the freeze plugs don’t work, or if there’s just too much expanding fluid to deal with, the engine block will crack and suddenly you’re looking at several thousand dollars worth of repairs. This is easily avoided. An inexpensive antifreeze tester can be used to see how low of a temperature your car can stand. If it doesn’t test to at least -20 degrees then it’s time to drain the system and replace the antifreeze. This is easy to do at home or can be handled at most quick oil change shops.
For just a few bucks, and very little time spent, you can winterize your European car and get it ready for the harsh weather. There’s no reason at all why you can’t enjoy your baby all year around. Who knows, you might just find that your fancy car is right at home when the temperature starts falling.
Tags: Auto Repair Indianapolis, european auto repair, indianapolis auto repair
