Don’t look now, but winter is fast approaching! Before you know it, the temperatures will be falling—and the snow will be, too. That could potentially make life very difficult on you if you don’t take the time to winterize your car, truck, or SUV. By winterizing your vehicle, you can protect it from the elements and ensure that you don’t encounter any catastrophes with it during the colder months. Here are a few tips for winterizing your vehicle the right way.

Make sure all of your fluids are refilled.

Before the winter comes, it’s important for you to refill the various fluids in your car. One of the most important ones to refill is your antifreeze. It will prevent fluid from freezing in your radiator once the temperature goes down. You should also consider switching to a thinner oil in the wintertime, if your vehicle can handle it. Additionally, it’s a good idea to replace your wiper fluid with a freeze-resistant option that will allow you to keep your windshield clean all winter long.

Inspect your tires and replace them, if necessary.

If you have tires that aren’t inflated properly, or worse, if you have tires that are worn, you might have trouble controlling your car on wet roads this winter. Both of those situations can reduce your overall traction and make it tough for you to keep your vehicle on the road. By either inflating tires or replacing them altogether, you can avoid slipping and sliding on rain, snow, and ice this winter.

Check your battery and battery cables.

Cold weather can really wreak havoc on a car battery and all of the cables that are connected to it. Many vehicle owners go to start their cars, trucks, and SUVs in the winter only to find that their batteries are dead. You can avoid this by inspecting your battery as well as your cables, terminals, and battery fluid before it gets too cold out. If your battery is on the older side, you might even want to go ahead and replace it now to give you the peace of mind that comes with a new battery.

Do you want to do more than just winterize your car this year? It might be time to buy that used car or truck you’ve had your eye on so that you can put it to good use in the winter. 443 Auto Sales can help you find the right car or truck for you. Check out our inventory or give us a call at 570-386-0443 to learn more about what we have in stock.

t used to be that if you knew someone with a car with more than 200,000 miles on it that was a rare thing. Today, however, cars are being made to last longer on the roads, such that 200,000 miles is like the new 100,000 miles. In other words, if hitting 100,000 miles used to be like a car was hitting middle age, now you can consider 200,000 to be the new standard.

Why are cars able to last longer than their predecessors? It’s a combination of higher quality manufacturing as well as improved maintenance options available, such that cars are lasting longer than ever before.

Take, for instance, the Honda Accord. As one of the nation’s most popular midsize sedans, did you know there are nearly half a million currently on the road and/or available for sale with more than 200,000 miles, according to iSeeCars.com?

Experts agree that today’s cars are designed to last at least 250,000 miles, if not more. You can increase the lifetime of your own car by following all the maintenance recommendations from the automaker. Things like regularly checking fluid levels, changing the air filters, and making sure tires are properly inflated go a long way in extending the life of today’s cars.

These days, when your car passes 100,000 miles, there are certain things to consider. Have a mechanic check to make sure all the belts and hoses are working properly and haven’t come apart or fallen off. The timing belt should be looked at, too. Finally, your vehicle might need a wheel alignment, especially if you live in an area where potholes are prevalent.

If and when you take the time to care about your car’s well-being, it could last longer than the cars of those who ignore maintenance schedules. Today, 200,000 miles is no big deal. It’s conceivable that your modern day vehicle could run the roads for several hundred thousand miles! How ‘bout that!

Tires are like shoes. Eventually they wear out. After all, tires carry a lot of weight, they’re used in all sorts of weather on all sorts of surfaces, and they’re attached to your vehicle, right? It’s inevitable that sooner or later a vehicle will need new tires. Until then, though, there are ways to maximize their time on the road over the years.

You should rotate your tires every 5,000 to 8,000 miles to help even out the differences of wear on them. Tire rotation involves a mechanic or technician moving tires from one wheel to another, from left to right or back to front or diagonally.

Tires tend to wear unevenly. Front tires do a lot of turning for the vehicle, so they tend to wear on their outside edges thanks to turning so many corners. Keep in mind that the rear tires stay straight all the time, so they don’t wear down in the same way the fronts do. If you didn’t rotate your tires, then over time your front tires’ outside edges would wear down to the point where your vehicle might give you a strange ride. In addition, uneven tires means your vehicle has to use more gas, costing you more money because uneven tires aren’t efficient.

Tires can also wear down due to poor alignments or unbalanced tires, so it’s a smart idea to get your tires rotated and balanced while also opting for a wheel alignment, too. These three things together help make the vehicle run smoother and handle better overall.

Remember the old tire ad that said there’s “a lot riding on your tires?” It’s true. They’re the one part of the vehicle that touches the ground, so tires need to be in their best possible shape and positioning in order to give you a steady, safe and predictable ride.

When’s the last time you had your tires rotated?

Used cars are a smarter buy than they ever have been, as modern technology is used to keep a detailed record of a vehicle’s health and history. With used vehicles, you can get a much better value without sacrificing much in the way of performance or reliability. It’s much more important to continue taking care of a quality used vehicle to ensure that it keeps on running for a long time. Here are a few tips for maximizing the longevity of a used car.

 Use Quality Fluids – You wouldn’t quench your thirst and fuel your body with dirty water. Why treat your car any differently? Make sure your gas station has fuel that is clean and properly filtered at the pump. Change your oil regularly, and consult your mechanic and owner’s manual to make sure you’re using the perfect type of oil for your particular vehicle. Transmission, power steering, and brake fluid should all be replaced regularly and with the same level of care.

Be Proactive – Even if everything seems to be operating smoothly, regular maintenance by a qualified mechanic is never a bad idea. They may find a minor problem that could someday turn into a major one, saving you further damage as well as a good chunk of cash.

Drive Carefully – Taking it easy on your car is the simplest and easiest away to keep it running as long as possible. Accelerate and brake smoothly, especially at the beginning of your drive. Avoid potholes while cruising and curbs while parking. Keep the weight of objects in your vehicle at a minimum to reduce stress. Even heavier keys can have an effect, putting excess weight on your ignition.

Protect It From The Elements – Have your car washed and surface-treated regularly to prevent stains and rust. Park in the shade whenever possible to keep your paint job from fading in the sun. Don’t neglect the inside either, especially when dealing with leather seating or dirty passengers. Finally, winterizing and summarizing your car, especially the tires, can keep it running smoothly and add precious time to its life.

In the old days, a car that made it to 200,000 miles was a rarity, but today it’s very possible and probable thanks to industry/technological improvements.

What are some ways to ensure your vehicle gets the most miles possible?

Tips to Maximize Your Vehicle's Miles Output

For starters, check research to figure out which models last longest. There’s plenty of online reporting and advice that’ll tell you what the most reliable models are. If you don’t have time to do that, then here are some great ones to buy: Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Toyota Prius, Honda CR-V, Toyota Sienna, Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, and the Ford F-150.

Next, consider preventative maintenance as well as scheduled maintenance in order to keep the vehicle in its best condition. This means having the oil and filter changed as needed, having tires rotated, and replacing belts before they break. Some people treat their cars like they treat their teeth. There are those who get twice a year check-ups and those who… don’t. Guess which ones have the best teeth/cars? Also, show your vehicle some TLC; get it washed and waxed regularly. Have tire alignments done. Use the right kind of gas for what the engine requires.

If and when there’s work to be done and a mechanic offers to use different priced parts, don’t get the cheapest ones. You do get what you pay for, after all, so it’s better to invest a little more money into repair/replacement parts that are of higher quality and more durable if you want to get the most miles out of your vehicle.

For those of you who have a vehicle that’s nearing the end of its “safe life,” and the mileage is “way up there,” consider getting rid of it when the rust is so bad that the structural integrity is compromised and/or a repair needs to be done that costs more than the vehicle is worth.

You can get a quality used car or truck at 443 Auto Sales, located at 2848 Blakeslee Blvd. in Lehighton, PA. There are plenty of options available priced under $10,000. Call 570-386-0443 with any questions you might have.