Noah Johnson Daily Press Part Sales Martin Edwards at Chatfield Machine Napa of Escanaba shows a brand of wiper fluid recommend for freezing temperatures.

ESCANABA — Snow has begun gracing parts of the Upper Peninsula over the past couple of weeks, and residents around the area are getting back into the habit of shoveling, clearing, and cleaning up snow. As you’re driving around, wondering what cold-weather chore you must do, don’t forget to maintain your vehicle.

Local automotive experts weighed in on how to best prepare, take care and operate your vehicle during the colder months.

“People should make sure that they’re doing their regular intervals of maintenance,” said Riverside Chevrolet GMC in Escanaba Service Manager Donny Caron.

This includes oil changes, tire rotations, and other services to ensure your vehicle runs properly.

He added that cleaning off your vehicle after a hefty snowfall is very important to prevent damage.

“I would say about 60 percent of our calls on the day after a heavy ice or snow storm is my wipers won’t work anymore,” Caron explained.

He recommends individuals stick the wipers up if there is impending snow or ice in the forecast.

He also recommends keeping the gas tank at least half a tank, if not more.

Part Sales Martin Edwards at Chatfield Machine Napa of Escanaba agreed with Caron, saying preparing your vehicle as much as possible for the colder months is essential. He also agreed with keeping the gas tank at half a tank. He explained that this prevents moisture from building up in the tank, which could lead to costly repairs such as replacing the fuel pump.

“You want to make sure that your vehicle’s pretty much, I would say, in tip-top shape,” he said.

He provided examples, saying motorists should have quality wiper blades, headlamps and tires.

“Obviously, no vehicle is going to be necessarily perfect up here, no vehicle is perfect anywhere, but, you know, there’s a lot of things that can definitely put you at a full advantage of safety when they’re maintained correctly,” Edwards explained.

In addition to wiper blades, it’s also crucial that a vehicle has the correct blend of wiper fluid. If the wrong blend is in the reservoir, it can freeze and even crack the lines that go to the windshield washing sprayers. When Summer rolls around with bugs and all, having a working wiper system is all the more critical.

“You’re costing yourself repairs that aren’t needed with the simple change that you could get ready to leading up towards winter,” he said.

Another important aspect of car maintenance is the battery. Make sure to get it tested, as colder weather can reduce the batteries’ performance and life span.

“Batteries are a very important thing in the winter,” Edwards said.

He recommends unplugging chargers or other power-draining devices from auxiliary and cigarette ports. Leaving those cables in, especially if the vehicle isn’t driven daily, can slowly drain a battery, even if it is a quality or new one.

“You’re really putting a stress on that battery, and the more you stress that battery. The harder it makes your charging system in your vehicle work,” Edwards explained.

Caron and Edwards agreed that a vehicle should be warmed up for at least 10 to 15 minutes before hitting the road.

“It lets the fluid in the vehicle get moving around, lets the coolant move around, it lets your transmission fluid start to warm up, so it flows better through the transmission. Same thing with engine oil, so flows better through the oil galleys in the engine, and to keep it at the top end where oil is important,” Edwards explained.

Caron echoed Edwards, saying it’s important to allow the engine to reach the proper operating temperature, especially for those with relatively short commutes.

“These short little interval trips; they’re not good for the engine; you need proper temperature, proper warm-ups,” Caron said.

Quality tires with decent tread are another aspect of a vehicle to monitor. Caron recommends all-weather tires for the climate in the UP. Cold weather can also impact tire pressure, so checking the pressure and filling it to the proper level is a good practice to remember in the colder months.

Research shows that for every 10 degrees the temperature drops, tires typically lose one to two pounds of pressure.

“You want to be positive that you have good tires on your vehicle. It’s paramount,” Edwards said.

While the vehicle is heating up, experts recommend cleaning it off as much snow as possible–especially windows and lights. Headlights caked in snow are a hazard for the driver and other motorists on the road, reducing visibility. Snow falling off moving traffic also poses a risk, as it could hit an unaware driver, possibly causing a traffic accident.

If you travel a medium to far distance every day, experts recommend going to a car wash once a week to clear snow debris and road salt. Edwards said it’s best to go to a car wash that can clean the underbody of the vehicle, as this will remove salt from any open metal spaces on the vehicle.

“When I say open metal, I just mean spots where maybe the undercoating is no longer adhered to the frame. It keeps the salt out of those pockets, which can eventually rot your frame out, and people don’t understand how fast the vehicle can rot,” Edwards said.

In addition to vehicle maintenance and cleanliness, Caron provided tips for when you’re on the road. These include driving slower, keeping plenty of distance from you and other vehicles, taking your time, knowing your surroundings, and practicing defensive driving.

Edwards echoed Caron, saying to pay attention to drivers around you.

“You can’t expect that everybody around you is driving safely. So, pay attention to your surroundings because it could potentially save your life or the lives of others,” he said.

“That’s the most important thing, is everybody being safe.”