The first hard freeze of the season in Santa Fe has come and gone with the promise of more on the way, as the forecasts are predicting a colder than usual winter this year. Stay ahead of the cold and keep your car running at peak performance all winter long, no matter the temperatures outside, by bringing it to Executive Automotive for routine preventive winter service and maintenance. Executive Automotive is Santa Fe’s best luxury European import maintenance and service provider. Here is how we keep your car running at peak performance throughout winter.
Filter inspection and replacement
- Engine Air Filter: The engine air filter keeps debris and dust from entering your engine. A clogged or dirty filter diminishes your engine’s ability to intake crucial air.
- Cabin Air Filter: The cabin air filter cleans the air your vehicle’s HVAC system pumps into the cabin. A clogged cabin air filter can reduce the amount of air flowing into the cabin, causing windows to fog, or worse, frost.
- Oil Filter: The oil filter removes particulates from your oil that can cause build-up in the engine.
Fluid/lubricant inspection and replacement
- Engine Oil: Recommendations are for replacing your car’s engine oil every 3,000 miles or every six months, whichever comes first.
- Coolant: Our qualified technicians will check to make sure your vehicle’s coolant levels, mix, and type are appropriate for your vehicle and the winter temperatures ahead.
- Washer Fluid: Keeping this fluid topped off with a weather-appropriate mix will help you maintain visibility when the temperatures dip.
- Other Fluids: Brake and steering fluids should be inspected for quality and levels so that your car can function its best even in icy conditions.
Battery Inspection
Winter is extra hard on your car’s battery. The colder the temperature, the lower the charge of your battery. Have your battery inspected to make sure it can handle the swing in temperatures. The last thing anyone wants on a cold morning is for their car to not start.
Tire Inspection
Making sure your tires are in good shape is vital to winter driving. Tires with insufficient tread have a harder time gripping the road. The situation can become dire when driving conditions are less than ideal. Depending on where you will be doing most of your driving, and the type of drivetrain your vehicle has, consider investing in a good set of winter tires. All-weather tires are also a good option that do not require swapping out at the end of the season. Talk to your technician about their recommendation for your vehicle. Additionally, colder temperatures decrease the air pressure in your tires. Keeping your air pressure at factory-recommended levels will improve your gas mileage while helping your tires to last longer.
Belt and Hose Inspection
Winter weather can exacerbate pre-existing cracks and holes in your car’s belts and hoses. This can be even more prominent in a climate like Santa Fe with its low humidity and extreme temperature fluctuations. Colder temperature can push an already stressed belt or hose to its limit.
No matter the make or model of your treasured import, routine maintenance is key to the longevity of your vehicle. Routine service is even more crucial when entering the winter months. Winter has a way of taking any issue your car is experiencing and amplifying it. That means the repairs can be more extensive and costly, and puts your car at risk for potential catastrophic failure if the work is left undone. This is definitely a time when an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
Take the worry out of winter and schedule your car’s winter service and maintenance with Executive Automotive today!