Plan Ahead to Get Your Land Rover Ready for Winter

Posted 10/24/22

Preparing your Land Rover for winter? It’s a good idea to take your vehicle into European Auto Specialists in Cincinnati for your car’s annual checkup to take care of any needed Land Rover repair before the snow starts flying. You’ll want to make sure your vehicle is completely ready for the snowy Cincinnati weather with winter tires that are designed to operate optimally in snowy and icy 7 degree weather. Here are some other items to add to your check list in preparing your Land Rover for winter.

Check on the Quality of Your Land Rover’s Antifreeze

Step one is to check on your radiator. Since the temperatures are going to be dropping, making sure your antifreeze levels are topped off properly is key. The usual mixture found in your radiator is 50% water to 50% antifreeze. Depending on antifreeze type, this mixture will stay liquid in temperatures down to around -35 F. But you have to make sure you have the mixture right. If you haven’t had a radiator flush recently, you can get a tool to test your antifreeze mixture yourself at any auto parts store. Your favorite Land Rover mechanic would also be happy to test the mixture for you to make sure that it’s at that perfect ratio to keep your engine safe in the colder months. You don’t want to discover that your radiator is mostly full of water when you’re heading to the top of a mountain in a snow storm. 

Keep Your Gas Light Off: Top Up Your Tank With Fuel

We all know that bad weather causes delays. Though it’s never a good idea to let your car run out of gas, it’s an even worse idea in the winter. You never know if you will get stranded in a snowstorm with nothing but the gas in your car to keep you warm. Always keep the fuel levels in your car to at least a quarter or a half of a tank. And though your fuel isn’t going to freeze in your lines in even the coldest of Cincinnati weather, when your tank gets low there is more water in the mix. The extra water vapor that can hang out in nearly empty tanks can crystallize on those coldest of nights, however. Your engine will not appreciate anything crystalized in the fuel lines, no matter the temperature. You don’t want to be stranded because your fuel level dipped. Be prepared with a tank full of gas.

Winter Ice Storm in the Forecast? Vaseline the Doors

Trying to get back on the road after an ice storm can be a real hassle. Not only do you have to remove the layer of ice off of your windows, but depending on how much rain you got before the water starts freezing, your doors may be completely frozen shut. You can keep your doors from freezing if you add a thin coat of polish or Vaseline to the rubber door seals before the ice starts forming. Trying to break the seal on a frozen door a little too enthusiastically can lead to a broken door handle, so it’s better to be prepared. It’s much cheaper and easier to lubricate your door seals than to have your Land Rover mechanic replace the door handle. And though you might not need to use a physical key to open your car’s doors, its not a bad idea to squirt some  WD-40 into the locks to help keep them from freezing in case your key fob’s battery dies.

Be Prepared For Winter Weather: Equip Your Land Rover

Make sure your Land Rover is equipped with all the winter equipment you’ll need before heading out. In addition to things like tire chains, a deicer and a scraper, you will want to make sure you have boots, a blanket and a flashlight in the car in case of emergency. Don’t be caught on the side of a mountain in a snow storm without the proper gear.

Getting the Most Value from Your Auto Repair Shop

When working with any auto mechanic, always request a written estimate. Now granted, an estimate is just that, an “educated guess,” but in most states, the shop is required to contact you for approval if the estimate rises more than 10 percent. You should also check the shop’s hourly labor rates, which can vary widely and will largely determine how expensive the work will be. Of course, in a competitive market, higher labor may mean more quality work. On the other hand, if you shop around and get second opinions from other car owners, you should be able to find good work at a great price. Any quality mechanic will realize there is more money to be made in well satisfied, returning customers than overcharging them for the work.

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