Be sure to be safe this winter season! Bring your car or truck in to Sil’s Auto Centre and take advantage of our Winter Maintenance Special (click here for coupon).

Winter Maintenance Special includes:

• Oil and filter service
• Multi-point inspection, including brakes
• Coolant Flush Service
• Inspection of all heater and radiator hoses
• Tire inspection, rotation and balance (if needed)
• Check and top off all underhood and vital fluids
• And more!

And while you’re out there on the roads, keep these following tips in mind:

• Make certain your tires are properly inflated.
• Drive with your headlights on.
• Avoid using cruise control or overdrive. Don’t let your car make a bad decision for you.
• Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze-up.
• If you lose traction and your vehicle feels like it’s floating, gradually slow down. Don’t slam on the brakes.
• Use caution when driving on bridges or concrete highways. These surfaces are the first to freeze and become slippery when the temperature drops.
• Slow down in advance of shaded areas, especially on curves. Shaded areas are cooler and may have ice that is difficult to see.
• Don’t pass snowplows or sanders, and don’t follow them too closely.
• Don’t get overconfident with four-wheel drive. It won’t help you stop any faster.
• Winter road conditions often result in longer stopping distances. Give yourself room. If you have anti-lock brakes, press the pedal down firmly and hold it. If you don’t have anti-lock brakes, gently pump the pedal.
• Slow down when approaching intersections, off-ramps, bridges or shady spots. These all have potential to develop black ice.
• Avoid abrupt actions while steering, braking or accelerating to lessen your chance of losing control.
• Look farther ahead in traffic. Actions by other drivers will alert you to problems and give you extra reaction time.
• Trucks take longer to stop. Don’t cut in front of them.

And just in case, make sure you pack an emergency kit in your trunk with the following items:

• Rechargeable flashlight
• Cell phone and car adapter
• Extra food and water
• Flares
• Tools: jack, lug wrench, shovel
• Road maps
• Blanket/sleeping bag(s)
• Extra warm clothes, boots, hat and gloves
• First aid kit (if you take prescription medicines, keep a few handy in your kit)
• Pocket knife
• Matches or lighter
• Battery jumper cables
• Ice scraper and snow brush
• Paper towels
• Extra washer fluid

Be safe and be warm out there!
Carlo

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