How to Prepare Your Ford Vehicle for the Winter

The cold months are upon us and you should consider having winter tires installed on your Ford vehicle if it has not already been done. Here are a few tips to help you make sure your Ford will be in top shape until next spring.

What to know about winter tires

While winter tires are not mandatory in New Brunswick, their use is highly encouraged due to their superior performance in cold weather when compared to all-season tires. This is because winter tires are made from a different rubber compound that remains soft even at very low temperatures while summer and all-season tires become very hard and thus much more slippery once the temperature drops below 7˚  Celsius, affecting the performance and safety of your vehicle. In addition, winter tires benefit from carefully selected thread patterns that have been developed to grip snow and ice better than other types of tires can. Of course, different types of vehicles require different types of tires, and what you do with your car or truck during winter also factors into the choice of tires you should get. To make the best decision, give our Tire Center a visit.

Have your car serviced

The key to keeping your Ford vehicle in great shape all year long is to keep on top of regular maintenance. This is especially important in winter because the cold temperatures and the road abrasives take a much bigger toll on your vehicle than summer driving does. Of course, this means you should have your vehicle’s oil changed to ensure contaminants that might have accumulated in it are kept out of the engine, but you should also have your coolant checked. Indeed, engine coolant is not something many drivers think about when it comes to winter prep, but it is very important to make sure your vehicle’s radiator is filled with fresh coolant as winter settles in. This is because coolant provides heat for the climate control system, but also because old, degraded coolant can actually freeze in cold temperatures, which can crack the engine block or the cylinder head. Another item that is often forgotten is the battery, which suffers in two ways during winter since cold temperatures reduce its capacity and make the engine harder to start. A visit to our qualified service department will make sure that these elements are taken care of, along with any potential problems that could arise later on.

Have it detailed and keep it clean all winter long

Rust is a major concern for car owners who want to keep their vehicles looking new for a long time. In order to avoid it, you should always keep your Ford vehicle clean during winter in order to remove road salt and other abrasives that can trap humidity against the body and the frame of your vehicle. Before abrasives are applied is also a great time to have your vehicle detailed in order to remove all of the contaminants that have accumulated over summer and fall. If you want an added layer of protection for your vehicle’s paint finish, our detailing department can also apply paint protection film to the areas that are most at risk of incurring damage from normal use, which helps avoid paint chips and rust formation.

Schedule an appointment with our service department!