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Tips to prep your car for winter

By: Donna Wick
| Published 10/22/2015

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THE WOODLANDS, Texas – As the cooler fall air creeps into the forecast and sunroofs everywhere are reluctantly closing, weather experts predict another grueling winter may be just around the corner.

October is Fall Car Care Month.


October is Fall Car Care month, an ideal time to ensure your vehicle is in top running condition for the upcoming winter and holiday driving season.

Milstead Automotive, along with ACDelco experts, recommend a thorough check of your vehicle to make sure it’s road-ready, safe and comfortable for the long haul.

“At Milstead Automotive we take care of our customers with expert service and quality ACDelco parts – all at a fair price,” said Amy Milstead, President of Milstead Group. “Proper maintenance can help prevent costly repairs or emergencies down the road.”

For example, dead batteries strand thousands of motorists when cold weather hits. Extreme hot and cold temperatures are hard on batteries, so make sure the battery and charging system are in good condition – and that the battery is clean and free from corrosion. Depending on the battery, it may need replacing if it’s more than three years old.

Here are additional items to take care of during Fall Car Care Month:


Have the heater and defroster checked. Now that the air is cooler, you’ll want to make sure you can fully clear your windshield of frost or ice. If you want the interior to provide a toasty haven away from the elements, be sure the heater is working properly before the real cold sets in.

Inspect your windshield wiper blades. There’s nothing worse than not having a clear view of the road during a storm. Look for tears or cracks in your wiper blades and replace them if they don’t completely clean the windshield.

Have the cabin air filter checked. A dirty, clogged filter can’t do its job – keeping impurities out of the air you breathe inside the car. Some vehicles have more than one filter.

Ensure all vehicle fluids are at a proper level. Avoid untimely and potentially expensive repairs during the winter by checking your vehicle’s oil and engine coolant – as well as transmission, power steering and brake fluids – now.

Examine tires for proper inflation. You might not notice your “Check Tire Pressure” warning light come on during the first cold snap of the year. Cold temperatures can cause your tires to be underinflated, sometimes to a potentially dangerous extent, so make sure to check the pressure often.

Assess brake condition. Brakes are always an essential safety component on your vehicle, but especially when driving on ice- or snow-covered roads. Make sure brake linings, rotors and drums are in their best condition.

Motorists can take some steps to care for their own vehicle, such as limiting the time they spend idling to “warm up” their vehicles. It actually doesn’t take long for modern vehicles to warm up, and running the engine for extended periods of time only lowers fuel economy.

Another simple but important step is to store some auto necessities in the trunk – such as a tire-changing jack, tire pressure gauge, jumper cables and flashlight – just in case.

Other automotive services, such as diagnosing warning lights on the dashboard, inspecting belts and hoses or replacing struts and shocks, are better handled by a professional, who can perform routine maintenance along with more technical jobs.

Milstead Automotive is a member of the ACDelco Professional Service Center network. ACDelco offers a free, downloadable car care booklet, Knowledge is Power, an easy to understand resource for vehicle maintenance that customers can consult any time. Visit www.acdelco.com for details.

Milstead Automotive is located at 29707 W. Hawthorne in Spring. Hours are 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on Saturdays. To schedule an appointment, call 281-367-3535 or email info@milsteadautomotive.com. You can also visit their website at the link provided below.

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