Seasonal
Winter prep checklist for Greater Cincinnati drivers
Cold does not create problems. It exposes the ones that were already there — usually at 6 a.m. in your driveway.
· 7 min read
The list
Load-test the battery and clean the terminals. Test coolant strength and condition. Replace wipers and top winter-rated washer fluid. Check brakes, because salt accelerates caliper and hardware corrosion. Inspect the serpentine belt and hoses, which stiffen and split in cold. Check tire condition and pressure, since pressure drops about one psi per ten degrees.
Why batteries die in January
A battery loses a large share of its cranking power near zero degrees at the same time cold oil makes the engine harder to turn. A battery that barely passed in November fails on the first genuinely cold morning. Testing in the fall is the cheapest insurance in the calendar.
Salt is the other enemy
Ohio and Kentucky road salt attacks brake hardware, exhaust hangers, subframes and electrical grounds. A fall underbody inspection catches corrosion while it is still hardware and not a whole assembly.
Bone says: here's why
Why test a battery that still starts the truck? Because 40 degrees and 5 degrees are two different tests, and only one of them strands you.
Let's keep your vehicle healthy.
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