Tag: Car

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Emergency Car Kit

The current weather conditions in much of the United States make it dangerous to be outdoors for even a few minutes without proper protection. With the impending addition of icy streets, and the inevitable accidents and road closures, it is more important than ever to have an emergency kit in the car which contains provisions to mitigate these risks to our, and our families, health and life.

If you must be out in dangerous conditions, consider taking the steps below to prepare yourself with a portable kit containing the items below. For a full list of these items, with links to purchase them online, go to https://www.stepsfortoday.com/items-mentioned-in-posts/#AutoEmergencyKit/.

• It’s always a good practice to let others know your route and schedule.
• Keep your cars fuel tank topped-off in case you are stuck in snow or traffic and avoid ice forming in the tank.
• Keep your cell phone fully charged.
• Cell phone chargers and backup power supplies
• Rechargeable flashlights and/or battery operated lighting with replacement batteries
• Solar and/or hand-crank recharging devices with a USB output port
• Ice scraper with a brush. Clear snow and ice from windows, lights, the hood, and the roof before driving
• Can of De-Icer
• Jumper cables
• Tire inflator which uses the cigarette lighter
• A small shovel for removing snow or mud from in front of the tires
• Salt for melting ice and traction
• Warm blankets or a sleeping bag in case the car is stranded and fuel is in short supply.
• Boots, hats, and gloves in case the car is stranded and you must walk to safety.
• Chemically activated hand and toe warmers. HotHands makes these small enough to fit in your pocket. They have a 3 year shelf life and they last 10 and 8 hours respectively when opened.
• Food and water. Place some nuts and/or snack bars in a metal container, such as a cookie tin, to keep rodents from finding them.
• Matches and/or lighters
• Fire extinguisher
• Water-tight, puncture-resistant, trash bags (in case they’re needed for sanitation).
• A lidded plastic container big enough to hold most of this (and the plastic bags after use).

More information regarding winter preparation can be found at  www.StepsForToday.com and https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/features/winterweather/.

Thanks again for the thoughts and suggestions; they really do help everyone who reads the blog!

As always, thanks for reading.

And remember to take the next step…

Mitch

P.S. And remember, don’t crowd the plow! They’ve got a lot going on; in very bad conditions. Don’t ever assume they see your car, or you on foot.

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Fall Auto Checkup

Fall has officially arrived. And Winter is just around the corner. In colder climates, winter is especially hard on our automobiles. The sub-freezing temperatures can cause badly mixed engine antifreeze to freeze and crack an engine, washer fluid to freeze up and leave a messy windshield, and reduce tire life by reducing tire pressure. So it’s best to get a jump on things before those temps arrive.

Here are a few short steps to ensure your auto is prepared for winter.

  1. Ensure your engine’s antifreeze mixture will protect against the lowest possible temperatures it may experience during the winter. Then subtract another 20 degrees just to make sure. There are different types of antifreeze for different engines. Always check your car’s manual, or with a car care professional, to ensure the right antifreeze and mixture are being used.
  2. Make it a point to exhaust your current windshield wiper fluid and refill it with something rated for extreme cold. Having working washers when they’re needed makes this process worth the hassle.
  3. Remember to periodically check your tire pressure as the days get progressively cooler. The dropping temperatures reduce tire inflation pressures; reducing tread life.
  4. If you own a diesel with a block heater, do a ‘pre-needed’ block heater check before it gets really cold to ensure it’s working.
  5. Check your tire treads for excessive wear. The penny test for 2/32 of an inch was to place a penny, head-first, into the tire tread. The tread would come to the top of Lincoln’s head. In my opinion, this isn’t enough tread for winter. It should be at least double this. So it’s best to check now to determine if you’ll need a new set of tires before bad weather arrives.
  6. Of course, it’s a good time to review your auto’s emergency preparations. To see a checklist of supplies which should be kept on hand, see my previous post at https://www.stepsfortoday.com/home-organization/emergency-prep-for-the-car/.

As always, thanks for reading.  If you have a moment, please Like this page and consider sharing this post it with others. It’s greatly appreciated.

And remember to take the next step…

Mitch

 

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Emergency Prep for the Car

After receiving some feedback on my prior blog post, I thought it a good idea to give focus on preparing your car for bad weather, or being stranded on the road.

In the last few years, the mid-west has seen a return of some nasty winter weather. Maybe it’s been too long since the drivers in our area have had to deal with ice and snow. Or maybe they are now more distracted. Whatever the reason, in the last few years we’ve seen some terrible accidents and hours-long highway closures; some even overnight. Here are some steps you can take today to prepare for such an event as we head into the worst of winter.

The car itself:
• Keep the fuel tank full. An engine can run for hours at idle and the extra weight also helps with traction.
• Check your oil. I’ve known many people who have ruined their engines by running them dry of oil. If you’ve got a leaky engine, keep oil in your car in case you are stranded and must keep the engine running to stay warm.
• Check your tire tread. I’ve seen way too many people stuck in the snow only because their tires were too worn to move snow. I get it. New tires aren’t cheap. But knowing their condition will help when deciding to go out or not.
• While you’re there, check your tire pressure. Improperly inflated tires lessen their effectiveness in the snow (and decrease the lifespan of the tire).
• Have your battery checked. Winter is hard on car batteries and lessens their cranking power. A weakened battery may fail to start your car when it’s cold. Some auto parts stores will check your battery for free; while it’s still in the car.
• Get the antifreeze checked. Having low, or improperly mixed, antifreeze can ruin your car’s engine. Make sure it has a full amount of properly mixed antifreeze.
• Tire chains if you live in an area with frequent, deep snows

In the car:
• It’s always a good practice to let others know your route and schedule.
• Keep your cell phone fully charged.
• Cell phone chargers and backup power supplies
• Rechargeable flashlights and/or battery operated lighting with replacement batteries
• Solar and/or hand-crank recharging devices with a USB output port
• Ice scraper with a brush. Clear snow and ice from windows, lights, the hood, and the roof before driving
• Can of De-Icer
• Jumper cables
• Tire inflator which uses the cigarette lighter
• A small shovel for removing snow or mud from in front of the tires
• Salt for melting ice and traction
• Warm blankets or a sleeping bag in case the car is stranded and fuel is in short supply.
• Boots, hats, and gloves in case the car is stranded and you must walk to safety.
• Chemically activated hand and toe warmers. HotHands makes these small enough to fit in your pocket. They have a 3 year shelf life and they last 10 and 8 hours respectively when opened.
• Food and water. Place some nuts and/or snack bars in a metal container, such as a cookie tin, to keep rodents from finding them.
• Matches and/or lighters
• Fire extinguisher
• Water-tight, puncture-resistant, trash bags (in case they’re needed for sanitation).
• A lidded plastic container big enough to hold most of this (and the plastic bags after use).

More information regarding winter preparation can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/features/winterweather/index.html.

Thanks again for the thoughts and suggestions; they really do help everyone who reads the blog!

As always, thanks for reading.
And remember to take the next step…
Mitch

P.S. And remember, don’t crowd the plow! They’ve got a lot going on; in very bad conditions. Don’t ever assume they see your car, or you on foot.