Illinois mechanic reveals key winter car prep steps before freezing temps hit

This Illinois mechanic has revealed some winter car prep tips to keep your car on top form as freezing temperatures roll in.

Braden Hagen, the owner of Motorheads Auto in Viola, Illinois, said that the time is now when it comes to preparing for plunging thermostats.

He said one of the most common issues he sees coming into his shop is cars with dead batteries.

Fortunately, he has some helpful remedies to stay on top of this and other winter-related problems.

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These winter car prep tips could save you a whole lot of trouble

When it comes to dealing with staying safe on icy roads, Hagen recommended a battery test, some fresh wiper blades, and ensuring that the washer fluid is filled up.

Batteries are particularly vulnerable in winter because low temperatures slow down the chemical reactions inside the battery.

This will lead to the battery not being able to deliver the right amount of power to the starter to get the engine running.

Hagen also suggested that people keep as many amenities as they can in their car – think bottled water and blankets – on the off-chance that a battery dies in cold weather.

He also advised that drivers check their tires for tread depth and proper inflation.

“Tread depth is the biggest thing for traction, but just making sure they’re aired up right, too,” Hagen told KWQC.

Checking tires and coolant before winter rolls in could be the key to preventing a costly breakdown.

A full inspection should also include the brakes.

Winter is also prime time for spiders to take up residence in your car, but that’s not really a subject mechanics would give out advice on.

According to data from 2015, the AAA saw 8.1 million calls for assistance during the winter period.

This is below the figure for summer, which stood at 8.3 million, but placed it higher than fall (7.8 million) and spring (7.7 million) by a considerable margin.

Mechanics are sharing their pearls of wisdom all over the internet

But it’s not just winter car prep.

We’ve seen a lot of mechanics dishing out advice on the internet in recent years, thanks partly to social media.

For one mechanic, he had a list of five things never to do in an automatic car.

Another had a tip about windscreen wipers that he promised would save drivers a lot of money in the long run.

And where would a mechanic be without a trusty can of WD-40?

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