BUCKHEAD, Ga. — Cold weather is moving into metro Atlanta Tuesday evening with temperatures in many areas expected to get below the freezing mark overnight. Local mechanics said it's your first chance to take action to make sure your vehicle is prepared for the winter.
European Service Center assistant service manager Abbas Al-seidi said the most important thing to prep your vehicle for the cold weather is making sure your tires are properly inflated.
“When your tires aren’t inflated and you drive on them, the rubber actually starts to take on the blunt force of the wheel," Al-seidi said.
Second, make sure your coolant is full, and don't use water in place of it. Al-seidi said while you may be able to get away with this in the summer, it could freeze in the winter and cause a massive coolant leak.
“You would also always want to keep an eye on your fluids regardless of the weather but especially in the cold," Al-seidi said. "You don’t want to run low on coolant. A lot of people think coolant is only to keep the car cool, but it’s also when the coolant heats up, that’s what helps get heat into your cabin.”
The next tip is to keep tools such as a screwdriver and wrench in your car, in addition to an air compressor and jumper pack.
“It’s always good to have a jumper pack in the car if your alternator fails or your battery goes completely dead," Al-seidi said.
The fourth tip is to make sure you're meeting your service intervals to avoid surprises.
“In the cold, road conditions aren’t always the best, and if you have a headlight out or a brake light out and somebody doesn’t see you, that could possibly cause an accident," Al-seidi added.
Al-seidi said now is the time to get your vehicle in tip-top shape with the first cold snap of the season rolling into the region.
“It’s always good to be prepared, even if you don’t think it’s going to get that cold," Al-seidi said.
The final tip is to check your tire tread and rotate your tires during every oil change to keep your vehicle running smoothly.