Protect Your Vehicle from A Polar Vortex

A polar vortex has made its way across the nation, freezing just about everything in its path. In such frigid temperatures, it’s imperative to take care of your vehicle so you don’t end up stranded on the road or stuck inside with no way to get to the grocery store.

Idling does more harm than good.

Contrary to popular belief, the best way to keep your car running smoothly in the winter is not to let it idle. According to AAA, you need to get your car up to full operating temperature to keep it from freezing in the extremely cold weather. This won’t happen if the car is simply idling, you need to drive it around. Idling requires more time for the vehicle to warm up and allows more fuel to get into the engine, which could ultimately wear your car down quicker, especially if you let it idle often.

Even after driving for a while, it will only take a couple of hours for your car’s engine to cool down from full operating temperature. Plus, repeatedly starting a car without running it long enough to recharge the battery can reduce the battery’s capacity and increase the likelihood of it needing to be replaced.

Antifreeze is the answer.

So, how do you protect your car from suffering in the cold? Instead of leaving the comfort of your home or office to frequently start it up, focus on antifreeze protection. Antifreeze prevents the coolant mixture in your vehicle from freezing. If one of the fluids in your car freezes, it will expand, and the pressure could potentially crack engine blocks and cause damage in your car. A 50-50 mix of antifreeze and water provides protection for temperatures as low as -35 degrees Fahrenheit. However, temperatures can plummet to even lower than that, which means you should up the antifreeze to water ratio to 70-30.

Don’t miss the winter weather products sale!

If you need to winterize or further protect your fleet from the cold temperatures, take advantage of our Winter Weather Products sale, now through March 31, 2019. Reach out to your sales representative or contact us online for more information. Stay warm out there!