Most residents of southeastern Manitoba are no strangers to winter driving, however, for young drivers and those new to colder climates, winter driving is a whole new ball game.
John Janzen of Janzen's Garage in Blumenort shares his tips and tricks for vehicle maintenance and staying safe on the roads.
“I would probably start off with making sure that you know that your oil is good and you've done a proper winter service or winter oil change," notes Janzen, adding it is also a good idea to make sure your antifreeze is all topped up.
He also suggests an important step for vehicle owners is to make sure their car is plugged in, especially on colder days. Then, before setting off, he notes you should run your vehicle for a few minutes.
"Some people want to start it and run it for 10 or 15 minutes for comfort and I am in the same boat as that but that is unnecessary. If you run it for two minutes or three minutes, that is sufficient to warm everything up to where it needs to be. For some of these vehicles with turbos, it is also a good idea to let it run and cool off before just shutting it off in these cold temperatures."
Other regular maintenance is also important as we head into the coldest time of year. As an example, Janzen says you should make sure your battery is in good condition and the battery terminals are clean.
With harsh winter temperatures, Janzen notes this is a dangerous time of year to be stranded which is why it is so important that everything is in good working order.
There are also a number of things you can do to improve safety on the road.
Janzen notes, "winter tires, either studded or non-studded, it makes a tremendous difference on the highway for safety.”
When it comes to driving through heavy snow, Janzen has seen “pounds of snow” jammed up into the undercarriage of vehicles. This can affect the suspension, cause the wheels to vibrate and make driving uncomfortable.
What is Janzen’s solution?
“The best thing to do is to park it in the warmer space and give it a chance to get that snow and ice out of there.” Clearing your wheels of snow when you are safely parked is also a good idea if you don't have a warm place to go.
Finally, Janzen has a final piece of advice. “Drive carefully and slow down when the conditions are needed and just make sure your car’s in good shape.”