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Winterizing Your Car in Rhode Island

Snow and ice can make transportation treacherous during winter in Rhode Island. Pay attention, slow down, keep an eye on the weather and winterize your car before heading out in quickly changing conditions.

1. Install Winter Tires. Before extreme weather arrives, install snow tires. The rubber compounds in non-winter tires can harden and inhibit the tire’s ability to grip the road. Winter tires are engineered using special compounds to resist this hardening and provide better traction. Come in now for 10% off your winter tires.

2. Wipers. Check your wiper condition—and consider installing special winterized wiper blades. Make sure your windshield washer fluid is full. You don’t want to make bad conditions worse with limited visibility. Keep a few extra containers of washer fluid in your trunk. It goes fast when cars are spraying salty slush all over.

3. Fill ‘er Up. Keeping your gas tank above half full will prevent fuel line freeze ups. Additionally, if you’re stuck or stranded, your engine is your only hope to stay warm until you can back on the road.

4. Safety First. Pack a winter emergency kit to keep in your vehicle should you ever find yourself stranded. Some ideas include: flares, phone charger, blanket, jumper cables, first aid kit, matches, blankets, gloves, flashlight, batteries, non-perishable food and water.

5. Preventative Maintenance. One of the most important measures to winterizing your car is just a regular service check-up. Have your service professional check battery and charging system, belts, hoses, spark plugs, anti-freeze, heating and cooling system, and fluids.

6. Tire Pressure. Temperature changes can cause gain or loss of PSI. Make sure that your tires are filled to appropriate pressure for adequate performance and traction.

7. Prevent Salt Damage: Wash your vehicle every 10 days or less or when the temperature reaches 40 degrees or more.
– After washing, open and close doors and trunk several times to prevent locks from freezing.
– Wash cars during the day to allow it to completely dry before temperatures drop at night.
– Avoid driving through deep snow that can get packed into the undercarriage causing drivability problems and contributing to corrosion.
– Wash the underside of your car thoroughly and often during winter months Avoid driving through puddles of standing water where road salt collects
– Wax your vehicle before winter and at least once every six months to maintain a strong protective coating.

8. Use Common Sense. This is the most important step to keep yourself and your vehicle safe in winter driving conditions. Clean all windows and mirrors of snow and ice. Slow down. Allow extra time. Don’t follow too closely. And if the road conditions appear dangerous, reschedule your appointments and stay home. Your life isn’t worth the risk.

Grieco Collision Center, Johnston RI

If you should find yourself in a slippery situation, don’t panic! Take your time, and if conditions dictate, get off the road. Check your local weather report often. And if your car should suffer any damage, the professional body work team here at Grieco Collision RI is ready to assist you and get you back on the road as quickly as possible. We’re experienced in all facets of auto body work, body damage repair, collision repair, paint job, corrective paint jobs, paintless dent repair and more. Give us a call today at 401-231-1118