Georgia isn't known for its heavy snowfall, but Georgia residents still need to master the fundamentals of winter car care. For one thing, they may drive their cars, trucks, or SUVs to colder places. Another possibility is that there will be a colder-than-average Georgia winter that brings an unexpected amount of snow and ice. When vehicle owners take good care of the cars during the cooler months, they'll boost safety and keep their rides in great condition for longer. Warm Your Car Engine Overnight Blizzards aren't a common event in The Peach State, but freezing rain and up to five inches of snow per year are possibilities, especially in mountainous regions, such as Gilmer and Pickens. If winter temperatures plunge below -15 C, you should utilize a block heater. Plug your auto in overnight to keep its engine warmed up. When you do, you'll find that it starts easily in the morning. more Remove Leaves and Other Debris When it comes to your home, removing leaves and other debris stops gutters from getting clogged. The same principle applies with your vehicle. If it's a windy day or night, leaves or other debris may get caught in parts of your car and trigger rust and/or leaks. So, inspect your vehicle and get rid of anything that shouldn't be there. Don't Forget to Add Winter Tires To stay safe on the roads when the weather gets chilly, put winter tires on your vehicle. Don't skip this important step, as your existing tires may not be up to winter road conditions. While all-weather tires are good enough most of the time, given the climate, do you really want to take a chance? Winter tires will be better choices when there's freezing rain or other road hazards. Make Sure The Fuel Tank Is Half-Full When you keep the fuel tank at least half-full during winter, you'll greatly minimize the risk of running out of gas during a bad-weather situation. No one wants to get stranded when the wind is howling and it's really cold. Another advantage to having a fairly full gas tank is that the fuel in the tank is less likely to freeze when condensation crops up. Don't Skimp On Routine Maintenance When it starts getting colder, you should get a mechanic to inspect your vehicle. This type of routine maintenance can save your life. If you have a valid warranty, it'll also ensure that your warranty stays in force. Choose a reputable mechanic who understands your make and model inside and out. If your vehicle needs repairs, get that taken care of as soon as you can. Winter isn't the time to let repairs slide. You need to know that your car is one hundred percent safe to drive. These tips will help you to keep your vehicle in tip-top condition all winter long. If you dream of a better ride, which makes it easier to enjoy the winter season in premium comfort and safety, why not take a new or used auto for a test drive today? Image via Pixabay.com
Researchers suggest that driving while tired is similar to driving drunk. You lose some control of your vehicle and may not be able to drive defensively to prevent accidents from taking place. To stay safe on the road, it's important that you try to avoid driver fatigue whenever possible. Here are some tips to help you avoid driver fatigue and promote a safer driving environment on the road for everyone. Avoid Driving When You're Tired This may seem obvious, but you should avoid driving when you're tired. This means that you should avoid driving at night during times you're normally sleeping, as well as driving when you're in that 3 p.m. tired slump during the workday. If driving through the night to miss traffic on a long road trip seems like a good idea, consider that it's more dangerous to drive while you're sleepy. Try to avoid driving during these times, even if it means taking a break for 30 minutes to rest. more Pull Over If you're too tired to drive, pull over to somewhere safe and take a nap. A 20-minute nap is often referred to as a “power nap” for a reason. It's overall a smarter idea to pull over if you're drifting into a different lane or catch yourself closing your eyes while falling asleep. It is best to pull over to a parking lot at a popular place, as opposed to the side of the highway. However, if you cannot safely make it this distance, consider pulling over on the side of the road for a few minutes and stretching your legs. Consider What Medicine You're Taking Some medications can make you feel drowsy or fatigued. Any time you are prescribed a new medication, read the informational pamphlet that comes with it regarding possible side effects. Many medications that are known to cause drowsiness indicate it on the prescription bottle or have a warning about operating machinery while taking it. If you have any questions about whether or not you should drive while taking a medication, ask your local pharmacist for their advice. Be Selective About Using Cruise Control Cruise control can make a long drive easier by allowing you to rest your legs in a different position while on a highway going at a consistent speed. However, many drivers become less engaged in driving when they utilize their vehicle's cruise control features because they're doing less of the actual work. If you feel distracted, bored, or fatigued, it is not the time that you should use cruise control. Drive With a Friend Whenever possible, drive with a friend or a family member that you can talk to while you drive. While you don't want to look away from the road to share eye contact, an interesting conversation that's not distracting can keep you awake and engaged. In the event you start to drift off, the friend can make sure you stay awake. Fortunately, there are plenty of things that you can do to prevent driver fatigue. You should drive only when well rested, and be mindful of the medications you're on. It's possible that you're already doing some of these things to stay safe. Photo by angrykarl via Flickr | CC BY 2.0 | Cropped from original
Everyone loves showing up in a freshly-washed car, shining and gleaming like it just rolled off the factory floor. But the interior of a car is often a different story, because it's significantly more difficult to detail. Here are a few tips and tricks to keep your Ford looking good from the inside-out. Regular Surface Cleaning Grab a Shop-Vac or other handheld vacuum cleaner and routinely sweep out your car's seats, floors, and floor mats. You should also dust the hard surfaces of your Ford's cabin, such as the dashboard, steering wheel, and gearshift. We recommend testing any cleaning products on an inconspicuous part of your upholstery just in case it causes stains or other permanent damage. These simple maintenance tasks can keep your cabin looking and smelling great. However, while cleaning your car's interior surfaces is an important part of the picture, you need to do more than that to keep your car truly clean. more Clean the Nooks and Crannies Certain parts of a car are often overlooked when it comes time for detailing. Door handles and jambs, windows cranks or power window controls, and storage pockets are some of the most commonly neglected areas. These parts of the car also happen to be touched by your hands with relative frequency, which means they are more likely to get dirty or greasy over time. You can use a cleaning formula in conjunction with a sponge or wash mitt to really clean out all these nooks and crannies that have accumulated dirt and debris. When performed regularly, this should be an easy part of the detailing process. Pay Special Attention to Leather If your Ford has genuine leather in its cabin, you'll want to be extra careful when cleaning. Damaged leather can become cracked and stained, which will really spoil your cabin's luxury. After vacuuming the seats carefully, you should use a specialized commercial leather cleaner on them. Avoid using bleach or other ammonia-based cleaning solutions, as these can damage leather upholstery. Even when applying a proper cleaning product, be careful not to oversaturate the leather, as excess liquid could seep into the seats or cause staining. When you're done cleaning, take a towel and make sure your leather surfaces are completely dry. Don't Forget Your Windshield There's nothing more important than being able to see where you're going when you're behind the wheel, but many drivers neglect to keep their interior windshields clean. Dust, dirt, oil, smoke, and even residue from other cleaning solutions can all accumulate on the inside of the windshield. This tends to happen gradually over time, so you may not even realize how dirty your Ford's windshield actually is. Use a microfiber towel to wipe down your windshield, and then use a glass cleaner to do the dirty work. It's also a good idea to clean the outside of your windshield at the same time, as this makes it easier to figure out which side is dirty. No one likes cleaning their car, but these simple tricks are quick and easy ways to keep your Ford's cabin looking great. If you perform this kind of regular maintenance, it will soon become a matter of habit. Photo: " Leather seats " by digitalpubs licensed under CC BY 2.0 | Cropped from original
