Local Auto Technician Shares Tips for Winterizing Cars | Kentucky News

PADUCAH – As outside temperatures drop, auto technology experts are urging people to winterize their cars for the coming winter months.

According to the National Traffic Safety Administration, winterizing your car should begin in October. However, it is not too late as winter can last until the end of March. To winterize your car, you’ll need to check the battery, tires, hoses, belts, brake pads, and headlights.

Auto tech instructor Cory Polsgrove of the Paducah Innovation Hub said that while everything needs to be checked, the effectiveness of your coolant should be a top priority. He points out that months-old coolant can be unusable, and if there isn’t enough of it, it could freeze, expand and damage your engine.

“A lot of people have coolant leaks and are constantly adding water all summer long,” Polsgrove said. “If they don’t drain that and get the right mix (50% water, 50% antifreeze), we’re going to get into colder and colder weather like we’re experiencing right now and it’s going to end up freezing. It could break the block of your engine.

According to AAA, for every 10 degree drop in temperature, tire air pressure drops by one to two pounds. Polsgrove pointed out that maintaining proper tire pressure is critical, especially if the area has snow. He said the risk of an accident increases when tire pressure drops below a certain PSI.

“With the colder weather, especially when it’s variable like it is now, you know, when it gets below freezing and it gets a little warmer, you actually lose air pressure in the tires,” Polsgrove said. “That’s why it’s important to check the air pressure.”

Most cars have a tire pressure light that may show you how much air pressure there is. However, Polsgrove recommends purchasing a tire pressure gauge. He notes that normal tire pressure is between 32 and 35 pounds per square inch (PSI). You check the side of the driver’s door to find out what the PSI of your car tires is.

Another important factor to consider when checking your tires is traction. You can measure the tread depth of your car tires with a penny. Simply place the penny between the grooves of the tire. If you can see Abraham Lincoln’s head, it’s time for new tires.

Checking your car battery, hoses, and belts is also part of winterizing your car. Polsgroves said car hoses and belts are subject to heavy wear and tear throughout the year. When temperatures drop, hoses and belts can become brittle and break, leaving you unable to start your car.

“If the belt goes bad, that’s usually why the power steering pump is running,” Polsgrove said. “So you will lose the ability to steer easily. “It also stops charging the battery, so you have to travel shorter distances, and the car will die because it won’t charge your battery.”

If your battery dies, having a jump box on hand could save you money on towing and require another vehicle to jump-start your car, says Polsgrove. Most jump boxes are inexpensive and can charge your other electronic devices.

Polsgrove also encouraged people to keep a winter emergency kit in their car in case of an incident. Items that must be included in this kit include an ice scraper, cat litter, basic tools like a screwdriver, wrenches, and vise grips. You can also bring a first aid kit, flares, gloves, blankets and drinking water.