Despite all of the talks about a La Nina winter weather pattern this year (which I guess means warm and wet), we will also probably have a cold snap or two.  When the “atmospheric river” collides with the “Arctic Blast” its almost always “Snowpocalypse” in the great North West. In all seriousness I have never lived anywhere other than western Washington so I really have no idea if the local news stations in other parts of the country pump up snow as much as they do in Seattle, I only know they sure do here.

I mean let’s face it, we are not going to spend 3 to 4 months under a sheet of ice and snow or suffer many blizzards, but we do seem to spend Winter under water however and given our topography when it does freeze or snow, the roads can be a challenge for sure.

We have it pretty good in terms of experiencing a pretty mild climate, but don’t let the current weather pattern distract you from just how important it is to Winterize your Subaru or Toyota. There really is no better time than now to beat the winter freeze, and this year it  could be more important than ever.  

As the wet season approaches this will push many of us east, over the mountain passes to a drier climate even if just for a weekend or even a day trip to Leavenworth to see the Christmas lights and as winter approaches the weather will be cold over there.  Your Subaru or AWD/4WD Toyota is the perfect vehicle for Winter, let’s get it ready!    

Just like its better to disconnect the hose from the spigot and put on a cover at your house before it freezes, it’s really better to service your Subaru and Toyota prior to it freezing outside.  So there really isn’t a better time to service your vehicle for Winter.  Be ready, this year has been full of distractions with current news events and it will be all to easy let the car slip your mind.

We want to help you avoid a costly breakdown. So lets get your car Winter Ready at All Wheel Drive Auto.

We are running a Winterize special 

This includes

*Testing the Coolant freeze protection level.

*Inspecting the condition of the coolant and cooling system including the PH levels.

*Checking and servicing as needed the engine oil.

*Checking the tires for tread depth and proper air pressure.

*Testing the battery. 

*Inspecting and ensuring all of your lights work so you can be seen in the dark.

*Checking the wipers for smearing, streaks or tears in the blade.

*Inspecting the rest of your Vehicle’s vital fluids.

*Inspecting all rubber components including belts and hoses for age and wear.

Depending on how you will use your Subaru or Toyota this winter, we may want to consider other items.

*Do you need Snow tires?

*Are winter wiper blades a better option for you?

*Do you have any long road trips planned to see family during the holiday season?

*If your Subaru/Toyota has over 150k, have the hoses and plastic type radiator ever been replaced?

Items that seemed to work just fine yesterday, can quickly fail during or after a cold front rolls through, the most common things are weak batteries preventing your Subaru/Toyota from starting and aged coolant hoses turning into a leak or worse an overheat situation. Understanding where your  vehicle needs are ahead of winter is really the best way to get through it. Sometimes the vehicle you own is just not the best choice for a winter trip, a higher mileage vehicle needsing a lot of maintenance is probably one that should stay home. 

Keep in mind if you own a modern vehicle with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System, it’s not uncommon to see the light come on during a cold morning, as the temperature drops so does the tire pressure and it may need to be corrected.

Here are some tips for winter driving in the NW with your Subaru or Toyota

*Try to have more than ½ a tank of gas as much as possible,  this minimizes condensation in the fuel tank and helps rear traction as well.

*Try not to drive in the snow if your tires have less than 4/32 of tread life remaining.

*When you shut the pre 2015 Subaru or Toyota off for the night, first turn off your wipers and headlights.

*When you start your vehicle up cold in the morning or after it’s sat for the day, say up at the pass, make sure your wipers are off and the lights are off prior to starting this is not only good for the battery but it also prevents the wipers from becoming damaged.

*If you’re parked for the day and it’s frozen outside, lift your wipers off of your windshield so they don’t freeze to the windshield, be sure to put them back before you drive away.

*Make sure you have an emergency kit in the car especially if you are taking a road trip, this includes a blanket, water and a flashlight.

*Deicer is a great thing to have around this time of year, not only can you use it to deice the window, it can help with frozen door locks and stubborn doors, keeping a can not in your car somewhere is the best advice here.

If you own a newer Model Subaru and you are looking for a tire chain alternative you might try the Auto Sock. If you have a Tacoma or Tundra do you have a set of chains?

 Remember after a trip up the pass, or after a lowland snow event it’s very important to wash your vehicle, the chemicals used to deice the roads can be very harmful to your Cars exterior.

Whether you need to have your Subaru or Toyota winterized or just need an oil change before the weather gets bad we are here to help.

Subaru & Toyota Service Appointments

Schedule your next service here or call: 425-828-3600 for Kirkland and 425 354 5200 for Bothell