Tip #9: Use winter washer fluid and replace streaking wipers before the first storm
On salted New Jersey roads the windshield gets coated with grime every mile, and an empty or frozen washer reservoir leaves you driving blind. Fill up with winter-rated fluid and replace worn blades before the first storm.
Tip #9 in one line
On salted New Jersey roads the windshield gets coated with grime every mile, and an empty or frozen washer reservoir leaves you driving blind. Fill up with winter-rated fluid and replace worn blades before the first storm.
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Call nowWhy the washer matters more in winter
Trucks ahead of you on I-78 or Route 22 throw a fine spray of salty slush that dries into a white film on the glass. Low sun turns that film opaque. Without washer fluid, the wipers just smear it.
Most drivers use more washer fluid in a single winter week than in a month of summer. Check the reservoir every time you fill the tank and keep a spare jug at home.
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Call nowUse the right fluid
Never fill the reservoir with plain water in winter. It can freeze in the tank, the lines and the nozzles, and in some cars a frozen reservoir can crack.
Buy fluid labeled for winter or below-freezing use, and if the reservoir still has summer fluid, run most of it out before topping up so the mix does not end up diluted.
If the nozzles are frozen, let the defroster warm the windshield and hood for a few minutes before you try again rather than holding the button down.
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Call nowBlades wear faster than you think
Wiper rubber hardens in summer heat and cracks in the cold. Streaks, skipping, chattering or a band of glass the blade misses are all signs it is time to replace them. Many drivers do it every fall.
Keep the headlights and taillights clean along with the windshield. The same salt film that coats the glass also dims your lights, which makes it harder for you to see and for other drivers to see you. Wipe them at every fuel stop on a slushy day, and replace a burned-out bulb promptly. The rear window and side mirrors deserve the same attention, especially on a car with no rear wiper.
Winter blades with a rubber boot over the frame resist ice buildup. Whatever you use, free the blades from the glass by hand before turning the wipers on, and knock ice off them when you stop for fuel.
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Call nowIf visibility goes
If you cannot see, get off the road at the next safe place. Do not stop in a travel lane. If the car will not move again once you are off the road, a roadside assistance call to (908) 444-0129 gets a technician out, and the roadside assistance guide explains what is covered.
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Call nowMore on maintenance
Keep reading, or go back to every post on the blog.
- Tip #8: Rinse the salt off the underside, or it will reach your brakes
- Tip #10: Check coolant only when the engine is cold, and never open a hot radiator
- Tip #88: A brake squeal is a warning, and a grind means stop driving soon
- Tip #89: Check the cooling system before summer traffic, not on the shoulder
- Tip #91: Cloudy headlight lenses cut your light, so restore or replace them
- What to do when your car breaks down in New Jersey
- Flatbed vs wheel-lift towing: which does your car need?
- What happens to your car after a police-ordered tow in New Jersey
- All posts
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