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1. Tune-up your engine.
|  |  | Get a full engine tune-up according to your owner’s manual. This will protect you from the difficulties that may crop up during extreme temperature fluctuations.
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2. Top-up the motor oil.
| | | As the oil level drops, the remaining oil in your engine has to work harder, becoming dirtier and wearing out faster – with the result that your car’s performance may start to suffer. Therefore you need to periodically add oil.
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3. Warm-up your vehicle.
| | | To ensure proper engine oil flow and lubrication, allow your engine to idle for a few seconds before driving in cold weather, and drive slowly for the first few miles until the oil is fully warmed up. This reduces emissions and saves fuel.
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4. Check your battery.
| | | If a battery is older than four years, you may have trouble getting it to work right in cold weather. Hot weather can also shorten a battery’s life, so have it tested if it’s near the end of its warranty. It’s a lot easier to replace a dying battery before a trip than it is to replace a dead one on the side of the road.
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5. Check the coolant and thermostat to ensure proper engine warm-up, as well as the heater and defroster operation.
| | | Coolant should be changed every two years; however, extended-life coolants used in many newer vehicles last about five years. Checking that your coolant is at the proper level is key in hot weather driving, as is checking your antifreeze in cold weather driving. Also, be sure to check and replace leaking or soft hoses.
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6. Check belts, hoses and windshield wiper blades.
| | | Extreme temperatures can increase the normal amount of wear seen on belts, hoses, and windshield wiper blades. Replace fan belts if they have cracks or wear; replace radiator hoses if they have leaks; and replace wiper blades if they are do not clear the windshield properly.
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7. Switch to synthetic oil.
| | | To ease engine start-up during cold weather, switching to a multi-grade synthetic motor oil such as Mobil 1 10W-30 or Mobil 1 5W-30 will help your car operate more efficiently, making it easier to start in extremely cold temperatures. Higher temperatures also speed up a car’s wear and tear, as fluids and lubricants break down more quickly. Synthetic oils, however, withstand higher temperatures much better because they are able to maintain their viscosity index.
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