Sam Memmolo
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It’s an easy time to forget or put off that ever so important vehicle maintenance. Vehicles serve us well, and they don’t know one day from another. They don’t enjoy holidays or weekends. Our cars & trucks are forced to transport us around on demand, day or night. The winter season means colder weather with rain, sleet, ice and snow. This is a perfect time of year to get service on the most often neglected service on your car. I’m talking about the cooling system. Yes, cooling system service is more important today than ever before. Most of us know that the antifreeze / coolant needs to be of sufficient strength to protect the radiator and engine from freezing, but there is a lot more protection that is needed. The second most important function of the antifreeze / coolant is to protect the entire system from corrosion and scale buildup. Fresh antifreeze has additives that take care of that need, but as antifreeze ages, it loses most of its corrosion protection. Don’t be stuck on the side of the road, or worse yet, have your holiday plans ruined by a breakdown. Schedule an appointment for your trusty ride, and treat it to a professional cooling system service as outlined in your owner’s manual. You can also call your favorite service advisor to get advice and arrange a convenient service appointment. Remember, these folks are specialists in your particular make and model of vehicle. Cooling system service is cheap insurance that will protect your vehicle this winter, and for seasons to come. Don’t put it off! The following is a repeat from one of my earlier articles, but I felt it worth repeating as winter gets its grip. If you are faced with a having to use jumper cables to start a vehicle with a dead battery, follow these simple directions to avoid damage and possible injuries. Remember, an automotive lead acid battery in a low state of charge is normally giving off hydrogen fumes that are dangerous, so here is the correct method of hooking up the cables. 1. Make sure the vehicles involved are not
touching each other, and be sure to identify negative and positive on both
vehicles. Let’s always be safe! If you have some gloves available, wear them. At the very least, wash your hands well when finished. Also wear eye protection; even sunglasses will do in a pinch! Lead acid batteries can explode due to the gases that can escape through the battery’s vent cap or port. Never smoke or have any kind of ignition source when working around the battery. If you follow these simple rules, you can save time and money by avoiding damage to your vehicle, or injuring yourself.
Happy Motoring, Sam Memmolo
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Cooling System
Well,
here we are with the holiday season well underway and the New Year. This is a
busier than normal time for most of us. Families are traveling to spend time
together and most of us are hurriedly shopping for that special holiday meal and
that “one of kind” gift.