Winter Maintenance for Your Ford
Winter can be pretty wonderful for a lot of reasons, but when it comes to its impact on driving in Pittsburgh, the weather can be downright frightful. That’s why it’s critical that you take good care of your Ford F-150, Explorer, or Escape heading into the coldest months of the year. The service team at Shults Ford South in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, can help make sure that your car, truck, or SUV is up to date on the services it needs to be its best.
Oil and filter
Your Ford doesn’t have the luxury of running on reindeer power, so unless you drive an all-electric Mustang Mach-E or F-150 Lightning, you need regular oil and filter changes. Some fresh quarts of clean oil and a new filter allow your engine to run at full strength, and it helps the engine keep the right temperature during these cold months. If you start skipping oil changes to save a buck in the short term, you’re going to end up paying for it in the long run.
Brakes
Struggling to come to a stop can be a harrowing feeling, and it becomes an even greater risk during the winter with snowy and icy road conditions. Having your brakes serviced and replaced when needed ensures that your Ford Edge or Ford Ranger has the stopping power needed to keep you safe. Look and listen for signs that your brakes may be due for an inspection, including sounds like squealing or grinding, unusual vibrations, and excess rust.
Tires
If having good brakes is important for winter driving, the same is absolutely true of healthy tires. Without sufficient tread and proper inflation, you’ll have a harder time bringing your vehicle to a safe stop and maintaining control in rough weather. As a general rule, you should get your tires rotated as frequently as you have your oil changed. You can also stay on top of tire health by checking the inflation levels, performing the penny test to track your tread, and looking for other signs of wear.
When the temperature starts to drop, you may also want to consider swapping out your current set for cold-weather or winter tires. These unique tires use a special compound and unique tread patterns to help maximize traction and control in cold, icy, and snowy conditions. Shults Ford South can fix you up with the best fit and make the switch, and we’ll switch them off when the warmup begins in the spring. This can also essentially increase the lifespan of your all-season or performance tires since you won’t be using them the full 12 months of the year and won’t put as much stress on them.
Battery
We’ve almost all certainly found ourselves stuck somewhere with a dead car battery, but being stranded in sub-freezing temperatures just makes matters less optimal and more dangerous. That’s why you should have your battery inspected before winter begins — our technicians can see if you’re getting a full charge and recommend a replacement when needed. That can be all the difference between being stuck somewhere and not having to worry about your vehicle starting all winter long.
We know that finding time for an appointment at the dealership can be hard, especially during the busy holiday months. But Shults Ford South aims to make it easier to get these and other important services done. We offer Pick-Up and Delivery and Mobile Service options, which means we’ll come to you rather than the other way around. And if you’re out and about and want to get service done in a hurry, the Shults Ford Express Service Centers in West Mifflin and Wexford can get you in, out, and taken care of quickly with no appointment required.
Shults Ford South is here for all your vehicle maintenance needs in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. If you’re looking to get ready for winter, schedule your service appointment today.
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