Preparing your car for an ice storm

Rochester, Minnesota (KTTC) – Both roads and vehicles can become icy as a potential storm approaches. Preparing your car for cold weather and cold weather doesn’t seem to be much different from regular car maintenance.

Many cars that remain outdoors can freeze overnight.

“If you can open even one door carefully and then warm up the car. Run it and let it idle. Heat radiates from the inside out. It will break all that ice,” says John’s. says Garage owner John Rusinko.

Mechanics recommend letting the car warm up for 5-10 minutes before scraping off the ice. Don’t try to melt the ice with hot water.

“Extreme to extreme. Frozen windshields, hot water, stuff like that. Extreme temperature changes don’t do anything,” Rucinko said.

According to the mechanic, using washer fluid with deicer is a must at this time of year.

“So if you’re going south, you don’t need cryoprotection. If you’re coming from the south, you’ll often see your washer fluid reservoirs freeze.”

Mechanics also recommend checking tire traction.

“I like to accelerate a little harder because otherwise the tires will skid. If the tires are spinning, you won’t be able to hold on when you try to stop,” said Rucinko.

Caring for your car in the winter is a lot like caring for it at any other time of the year.

“As long as you do regular maintenance, take care of your car, and take it to a shop, do an oil change at least twice a year, then you don’t have to worry,” Rusinko said. I’m here.

If possible, stay home and avoid freezing conditions.

“If you don’t have to travel, you don’t have to go anywhere, you can work from home. It’s great. Sit in your car. Don’t touch it. If it gets warm, you risk damaging it.” No,” said Lucinko.

Other product mechanisms mentioned to keep cars from icing up include windshield blankets and water repellents.

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