Winter Car Care Tips

The Sokolis fuel management team wants to make sure you are able to get you’re the places you are going this winter. As the temperature begins to dip, it’s time to prepare for the winter months and potentially treacherous cold-weather driving. Ensuring each vehicle in your fleet is prepared for the winter can help you to decrease gas mileage, avoid expensive repairs, keep your vehicles in top operating condition, and even ensure the safety of your drivers. Here are some simple tips on how to winterize your vehicles.

Check the antifreeze/coolant

• Servicing the cooling system according to a vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations can help you avoid costly repairs down the line.

Watch the wiper blades

• Check and clean the windshield wiper blades or replace them if necessary to improve visibility and help avoid a very dangerous situation on the road – particularly in snowy and stormy conditions.

Make sure the battery is strong

• A weak battery could lose about one third of its power or more in colder conditions (e.g. below 32 degrees Fahrenheit). Make sure that connections are tight and free of corrosion and have your battery tested to ensure it has ample power to withstand the cold. Start the car with the heater, lights and window defrosters turned off to minimize battery strain.

In case of emergency

• Maintain a vehicle emergency kit including a first aid kit, jumper cables, flashlight, bottled water, extra blankets, gloves and hat, granola/energy bars, duct tape, and, if the vehicle has compact tires, an aerosol can of Fix-a-Flat® (a temporary emergency tire repair tool). You never know when you will need these essentials.

Keep an eye on tire pressure

• Under-inflated tires create extra friction where the rubber meets the road. Improperly inflated tires also wear unevenly, which can impact your vehicle’s traction on the road and possibly lead to a dangerous blowout. Check your tire pressure regularly and make sure all of them are filled to the correct level – and remember your spare tire, which can lose pressure in the cold.

As always, check your owner’s manual for recommendations for each vehicle in your fleet.

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