Traveling for the holidays is a must if you plan on experiencing the natural wonders of the season. The snow, the trees, the sledding, is all unavailable to us in Clermont. Luckily, we have cars are the will to travel. Although, this year we highly advise that you plan safely as we're still in the midst of a pandemic. However, if you've plotted out your trip and have made the necessary precautions, there are a few tips you should remember if you go driving in the snow.
Things to Remember When Driving in the Snow
Driving in the snow is a lot different than driving on the dry and flat streets of Clermont, Florida. It's even vastly different than driving in the rain. While you should definitely take road rules into higher consideration when driving in these unfamiliar conditions, it's also important to remember to check your ride for these things:
Tip 1) Check Your Tires
Your car's tires are your first (and hopefully only) point of contact with the slushy holiday goodness coating the ground. Before you embark on your journey north of Clermont, make sure to give your tires a good once over. How does the tread look? Is it worn? Is the PSI at the right level? We highly recommend having your tires replaced if they don't answer any of these questions well.
Tip 2) Bring an Ice Scraper
Something we're definitely not used to here in Florida is getting ice on our windshields. This can greatly obstruct your view and you can't get it off with a simple once over with windshield wipers. Instead, you have to scrape it off. We recommend using something like a paint scraper or an actual ice scraper. This will help you see more clearly and get you back on the road faster.
Tip 3) Make Sure Your A/C Heat Setting is Working
If you're going to be driving in the snow, best believe that it will be cold with a capital C. Your heater will keep you warm in your Clermont Toyota car while your defroster will keep fog off your front and rear windshields. Make sure both of these functions work properly before braving the harsh north cold.
Tip 4) Swap out Your Oil and Antifreeze
Driving up north can be quite a shock to your system. Your car's engine oil and antifreeze are two essential fluids that your vehicle can't run without. They're also highly susceptible to the cold weather and can have trouble performing if temperatures fall a bit south. Before you start your journey, have one of our auto service techs swap out your fluids for ones that better perform in the cold.
Tip 5) Have Your Battery Inspected
Your car's battery is needed to start and keep it running. The cold weather from driving up north can sap the energy right out of your car's battery and can leave you out in the cold if you're not careful. To prevent this from happening you should have you battery inspected for overall charge and age before venturing north. Have one of our Clermont auto service technicians check it for you.
Prep Your Ride with Toyota of Clermont
Our auto service technicians are here and ready to help you before your trip this holiday season. Visit Toyota of Clermont today at 16851 State Road 50 or schedule an appointment online.
Comments
Post a Comment