Winter Car Care: 4 Tips from the Experts at Jiffy Lube

This Thanksgiving, nearly 46 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles from their home by car. However, before hitting the road this holiday, Jiffy Lube encourages drivers to ensure their vehicles are ready for the road trip. From a thorough check of fluids to tire inspections, preventive maintenance can help ensure a smooth, safe journey.

Drivers can visit a Triad-area Jiffy Lube location or perform the following themselves:

Check Fluid Levels

Check all of the fluid levels in your vehicle. Each fluid plays a key role in ensuring optimal longevity as well as maintaining proper efficiency, so check fluid such as motor oil, coolant, transmission fluid and windshield wiper fluid. Plan ahead to have your fluids inspected, topped off or exchanged as recommended by your vehicle owner’s manual. Did you know that engine oil is critical protection during cold weather starts? In simple terms, cold weather can cause motor oil to flow either too slowly or not at all – potentially taking a toll on the engine. Follow your vehicle owner’s manual for proper recommendations.

Measure Tire Tread

Many of us have heard of the penny trick when it comes to measuring tire tread, but not nearly enough of us have done it. Tread depth tells how worn your tires are – and worn tires can impair the way your car stops in wet or icy road conditions. When checking your tire tread, don’t assume that one tire will be equal to the others. Check all four tires – and if one is need of replacement, be sure to take care of it before you hit the road.

Check Tire Pressure

As temperatures dip, so does the pressure of your tires. Underinflated tires are at greater risk to fail – even if they’re just a little on the underinflated side. Tire gauges are inexpensive and can be found easily online or at a nearby auto store – and they’re easy to use. Be sure to measure your tire pressure before leaving town and before heading home, especially if you’ve traveled to a town with a cooler climate.

Inspect for Tire Bubbles

Tire bubbles are among the more obvious ways to tell if a tire is damaged and needs to be replaced. If your tire has a visible bump, it means it is at greater risk to fail, putting you and your passengers in danger while on the road. Jiffy Lube urges drivers to be safe and replace any tires with visible damage before heading out on their Thanksgiving treks.