Our Minnesota winters are long and cold. Low temperatures can take their toll on a vehicle, particularly if it hasn’t been regularly serviced. As your Mazda dealer, we want to give you a few tips on services for preparing your Mazda for winter so it will breeze through the winter chill and snow.
Advice From Your Mazda Dealer: Preparing Your Mazda for Winter
Check Your Battery
The battery is essential for starting your vehicle, but it does wear out over time. The average life of a battery is three to five years before the chemicals inside break down naturally, causing it to weaken and eventually fail. Our winter high is 29 F, and temperatures below 32 F cause a 20% drop in battery capacity for even a healthy battery.
With 80% capacity, a healthy battery can easily start your engine. Unfortunately, losing so much capacity from an already weak battery will cause it to fail, potentially leaving you stranded. Visit us for a battery check, and our technicians will connect your battery to our computerized battery tester. This machine analyses your battery and will identify any weaknesses. If your battery is worn, we’ll install a new one, so you’re all set for winter.
Check Coolant
Coolant is a mixture of antifreeze and water and helps control engine temperature. It’s pumped through your engine, absorbing heat as it moves. The heat is transported inside the coolant to the radiator. Once inside the radiator, the heat is removed by heat exchange. Coolant slowly degrades, making it less effective at heat removal, and this could cause your engine to overheat even in cold weather.
The standard mixture of coolant is 50:50 antifreeze to water. Antifreeze prevents water from freezing even at low temperatures, ensuring your engine will work effectively despite the weather. If your coolant is relatively new, we recommend adjusting the mixture to a 60:40 or 70:30 antifreeze-to-water ratio. If your coolant is old, we’ll drain it and refill your engine with the new mix.
Check the Oil
Oil allows your engine to work effectively by lubricating countless engine components. This enables them to work effectively while protecting the components against wear and tear. Additives are added to the oil to prevent rust, break down potential engine blockages, and keep the engine clean. Oil becomes less effective at all these tasks as it ages, so it needs regular replacement according to your service schedule.
Low temperatures cause oil to thicken, making it slower to lubricate engine components. This causes increased wear damage, and you’ll use more fuel. We’ll test your oil and replace it if needed to ensure it works effectively.
Book your winter maintenance today by contacting us at Rochester Mazda in Rochester, MN.
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