Empire Covers Blog

The time of year is upon us for holidays and family gatherings, which can mean long trips in the car. The day before thanksgiving is the busiest driving day of the year, when millions make the pilgrimage home for the holiday. Although we all enjoy spending time with love ones, a lot of time on the road can be stressful and even dangerous. There are a few things you can do, however, to make your long road trip this winter safer and more enjoyable for you and your family.

The first thing you should do is make sure your car is prepared for winter driving. Change your oil, check the pressure of your tires, flush your cooling system, replace antifreeze, and clean your head and side lights. You can do these things on your own, or you can take your car into your local mechanic and they can do it for you. Preparing your car for the winter can save you a lot of time and help prevent an accident. These are simple things you can do to ensure you get where you need to be without any road bumps!

Once your car is in shape to make the trip, make sure the roads are too. Check in advance to see if there are any road closures or traffic delays. This is often the first week of real winter weather, so roads can be unprepared and slick. The federal highway administration is a great resource for checking traffic and road conditions. Check their site, www.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficinfo/index.htm, for traffic information and links to other traffic sites. Check the weather forecast before you go, and try www.drivecast.com for the weather along major interstate highways.

Traveling with children can be also be stressful. Make sure they have enough to do so they do not distract you while you are driving. Games, music, and coloring books are great ways to keep kids occupied during long trips. Make sure they wear a seat belt at all times so they do not wander to the front of the car and distract you. Don’t let them get bored; write a list of things to do/bring the night before so you don’t have to scramble during the drive.

Don’t forget to take breaks. We often rush to get to places, especially if it’s a long drive. Taking breaks is important because it keeps us alert and responsive. Even a five minute break can make a huge difference. Also, don’t speed or rush to your destination. It is always best to take things slow to avoid unsafe driving. Getting there safely should be your top priority.

Make sure your car’s gas tank stays full. During long trips, this can be difficult. Avoid going below the quarter tank line if you can. This will make sure your fuel-line doesn’t freeze and that you don’t run out of gas in cold weather. Don’t take a chance with your gas tank; keeping it above a quarter will save you a walk to the nearest gas station in freezing winter weather!

A few other tips include using getting a good night’s sleep the night before, avoiding drug and alcohol consumption before diving, and keeping an emergency kit in the car. These are simple things you can do to help you arrive at your destination safely. Be cautious and take breaks often. Our cars have to battle the winter road so we don’t have to, don’t forget to give thanks to your car this thanksgiving!

Winter can be a wonderful time filled with holiday cheer and snowflakes. It can also be extremely harsh. Plants, humans, animals, and even cars feel the brunt of winter furry. Although it may not seem like it, Old Man Winter can be incredibly cruel to your vehicle. Aside from ice build up, fluids and hoses can freeze up, not to mention those cold leather seats at 7 am! There are a few precautions one can take in order to help prevent the damage that winter can do.

Most importantly, buy yourself a high quality, weatherproof car cover. We recommend the Empire Waterproof or the Max cover. Both of these car covers have high water resistance to block out snow and ice. (Note: In unusual circumstances, a layer of ice may form between your vehicle and the cover. This layer of ice must be thawed before removing your cover. You may expedite this process by pouring warm water over the cover and gently lifting it as the ice begins to melt. If any resistance occurs, repeat the process.) The cover can also be protected against wind by installing grommets that come with it. By tying it down, you can keep fierce winter winds from blowing your cover off.

Secondly, make sure your car is in working condition before winter sets in. A broken down car on the freeway in 30 below is never a pleasant experience. Also, be sure to ask your mechanic to flush your cooling system and replace the coolant. If you want to do this yourself, aim for a 50-50 mix of antifreeze and water inside the radiator. This way the mixture won’t freeze in cold temperatures. The cooling system not only works to keep your engine from over-heating in the summer, but it works to protect the engine against corrosion.

Making sure you can see should be a top priority to ensure safety. Replacing your windshield wiper blades is an easy way to improve your visibility on the road. Experts recommend that you change them once a year. Also, make sure your wiper fluid is full and to make sure your windshield doesn’t build up ice during a storm, try adding some antifreeze.

Get your oil changed. The oil in your engine will change depending on how hot or how cold the engine is running. Due to the fact that outside temperatures will have an effect on the internal temperature of the engine, be sure you have oil that will hold up when it is cold outside. A mechanic or your owner’s manual may recommend using a thinner, less viscous oil in the cold months.

When was the last time your checked the pressure of your tires? It’s extremely important because the traction on the tires keep you from sliding on frozen winter roads. Traction can be vulnerable in wet, icy, or snowy weather. In colder weather, the air in tires decrease, making you more susceptible to sliding on the road. Check your owner’s manual for target tire pressures.

These precautions are important to preventing damage and ensuring safety on the road, but the most important thing you can do is drive safely. Slow down and be aware of everyone on the road. Don’t let the weather bog you down this winter, take these steps to ensure you and your car’s safety.