With winter around the bend and cold weather starting to make its way in, vehicles everywhere will need to be ready.
Vic Gauvin, president and general manager of Gauvin Motors, is encouraging people to stay ahead of road conditions when it comes to seasonal vehicular preparations.
"It's important to have your vehicle winterized," said Gauvin. "You want to keep everybody safe, that's for sure."
Winterizing a vehicle means checking the anti-freeze to make sure it's below zero-ready, swapping out for winter tires, or checking the all-season tires to make sure they have enough tread and air.
It's also important to check the exhaust system. If a vehicle gets stuck in deep snow, the exhaust fumes can be deadly.
"With the windows rolled up, you can have fumes getting into the passenger compartment," said Gauvin.
Other general maintenance includes wiper blades, headlights, and making sure that the heater is still ready to go after taking a break all summer.
"The most important thing is the winter tires," confirmed Gauvin. "It's important to think about that. As a matter of fact, in some provinces, that's even the law that you have to have them on."
Winter tires should be installed once temperatures begin settling into the single digits for multiple days on end. If the weather is too warm, the softer tire material can wear out. Once it's cold enough, especially with snow on the roads, the soft rubber better enables grip in icy conditions.
It's worth noting that pre-starting your vehicle in the winter isn't just done to heat up the interior. Especially for diesel engines, warming them up in the morning gives the oil a chance to circulate, warming up the engine, and ensuring nothing snaps under stress while cold. It should only take five to ten minutes.
Another important bit of preparation is packing an extra blanket, jacket, toque and mittens in the vehicle in the event of being stranded during highway travel. It is also good practice to keep a flashlight, and battery booster, along with food and water.
"You want to stay safe if you happen to be stranded in the ditches," said Gauvin. "It's about more than just keeping your vehicle safe, you want to keep yourself safe also."