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If you live in an area of the United States where the winter months can be cold and harsh, you undoubtedly know how important it is to properly prepare for the weather. In addition to making sure you have appropriate attire, prepping your house, and stocking up on food, it is imperative to get your vehicle ready. As you read this guide, you will see five helpful tips for winterizing your car to make sure it runs well until spring arrives again.

1. Change your oil – Oil, like most other liquids, can freeze when the temperature drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Certain types of oil are less prone to freezing than others. The owner’s manual for your automobile should tell you what oil viscosity you should put in your vehicle during the wintertime. The odds are good that you’ll want a thinner oil than you use the rest of the year.

2. Switch out your tires – While you can keep the same tires year-round, the best option, particularly if you live in a region that gets a significant amount of snow, is to invest in snow tires. This type of tire is specially designed to function well on icy and snow-covered roads.
Replace washer fluid and windshield wipers – Most manufacturers recommend replacing windshield wipers once per year, so the start of winter is a great time to make sure you have brand new wipers on your vehicle. Furthermore, to avoid any issues, you should replace your current washer fluid with a version that contains an antifreeze solution.

3. Keep your gas tank full – If your gas tank is empty, or close to empty, during the winter, condensation can form in the top of the tank. When the outside temperature gets below freezing, these water droplets can freeze, ultimately falling to the bottom of your car’s gas tank and, potentially, blocking your fuel lines. This can lead to serious problems. The best way to avoid this is to keep your gas tank full all winter long.

4. Create an emergency kit – Because winter weather is unpredictable and you never know when you might get stuck on the road, having an emergency kit in your vehicle is imperative. Some of the basics you should have on hand are a set of warm clothes, tire chains if you are in a mountainous region, snow boots, spare blankets, jumper cables, non-perishable food (such as granola), an extra ice scraper, a first-aid kit, a small shovel, and some tools.

If you follow these tips, you should be fully prepared for the winter months, no matter what kind of weather comes your way!

Whether you’re a car fanatic, trying to repair your family car, or own an auto repair shop, used auto parts aren’t typically your first choice, especially when you can purchase brand new parts, fresh out of the box and expect them to last a very long time. The thing is, you can never be positive that a brand new car part isn’t going to fail you days, even weeks from now. Before spending the money on brand new parts, save a few dollars by purchasing used parts first.

Not convinced? Consider these benefits:

1. Cost

Used car parts are priced depending on various factors including rarity, demand, condition, make/model, and dealer (just to name a few!). For the more common parts, the pricing is going to be extremely affordable. The only time you’ll see extremely high costs for used parts? This will be for very rare parts for classic cars.

2. Availability

There is always high availability for used auto parts, especially for those of popular cars. Typically, these parts are taken from cars that had to be salvaged due to old age or an accident.

3. Outlets

Finding used car parts is easier than you would think. From a variety of resources such as U-Pull It yards, salvage yards, and specialty shops. Don’t have any of these close by to you? Used auto parts can also be found online and shipped right to your front door!

4. OEM Standards

There are a set of standards put in place for the manufacturing of car parts. Think of new car parts being made for a specific make and model when the car itself is being manufactured. There are also after-manufacturing car parts that are made. Are you having an issue going to the store and purchasing a new car part only for it not to fit correctly? Head to your local salvage yard and pull the used car straight from the same make and model of your own vehicle and the chances of it fitting and working properly is extremely high.

5. Refurbishing

If used car parts aren’t your thing, consider refurbished parts. These will be in better shape than used car parts and will still cost you less than the brand new parts.

To start looking for your used auto parts, give Robertson’s a call today at (800) 551-7000.

The cold winter days and rainy spring days are finally over, and it’s time to drive around with the windows down and music up. It’s summer time! Have you made sure your car is in tip top shape for summer cruises?

Clean Out

If you live anywhere near New England, chances are it’s been a rough winter followed by a rainy spring. It is either time to hit the carwash or break out a sponge & bucket to get your car sparkling for the summer! The floors of your car are probably stained white with sidewalk salt, topped with mud from weeks of rain. If you have kids riding in the back, this mess might have even spread to the back of your front seats. You can easily vacuum this away for just the price of quarters at most gas stations, or you might want to go for a deeper cleaning with a professional detail service – Make sure it includes a carpet shampoo!

Before you start actually cleaning, you might have a few items to store away for the summer. You won’t need your snow boots, extra layers, and whatever else is taking up room in your trunk or backseat. It’s time to make room for beach chairs!

Check Your Tires

Tires can get worn faster when driving through snow or ice. If you have slid around in the snow or rain recently, it might either be time for new tires or an alignment. You can also take the simple precaution of checking your car’s tire pressure, as low pressure can increase the chance of blowing a tire. Don’t forget to check your spare tire too!

Check Your Brakes

Summer can be primetime for stop and go traffic, especially if you are headed to a popular roadtrip vacation destination. You will want to make sure that your brakes don’t fail you. If they are making any type of noise or requiring added pressure, they need professional inspection.

Keep Your Engine Cool

Summer heat can make a risky engine situation much worse – Avoid the risk and make sure your engine is cooling properly before it heats up this summer. This includes checking the fluid levels, which have lubricating and coolant properties. Important fluids to check are your car’s break fluid, power steering fluid, and transmission fluid.

Prepare for a Breakdown

Even when your car is brand new, you should always be prepared for a breakdown just in case. Essential items include a flashlight, jumper cables, and a warning sign to alert other drivers. Be aware of your surroundings at all times when driving so that you can specifically describe your location to a friend or tow service.

There are few things worse than your car dying, especially when you don’t have the money to pay for a new part to repair it. Fortunately, getting used parts is easier (and much cheaper!) than you might think. This guide will teach you about a few of the places you can look for second-hand car parts to get back on the road faster.

Pick & Pull Salvage Yards

Salvage yards are a paradise for anyone who needs a used auto part. These facilities usually have a huge range of vehicles, including both domestic and foreign makes and models. If you’ve never been to a pick & pull salvage yard before, you might be feeling a little intimidated. A few tips will make all the difference.

If possible, ask a friend or relative who has been to your local salvage yard before to accompany you. This will make the entire process less daunting. You should also make sure you know exactly what part you need. This way, you’ll be able to ask for help if you need it; most salvage yards only have a couple of employees on duty at any 

given time, but they will assist you if you need it. Finally, be aware of the fact that you’ll have to remove the part you need on your own, so if tools will be required for the job, bring them.

Specialty Repair Shops

It’s not uncommon for specialty auto repair shops to have used parts available at relatively low rates. This generally doesn’t include dealerships and mainstream auto parts stores. Instead, you’ll have to look off the beaten path a bit for independently owned garages and shops.

Acquaintances With Junk Cars

Just about everyone has that one friend who lives in the country and has at least three dead cars sitting in the yard at any given time. Have someone in mind? Good. Now ask him or her if the part you need happens to be sitting on his or her property.

Having acquaintances who own multiple junk cars can come in handy when you need a spare part, especially if they’re willing to help you put it on cheaply to boot.

Craigslist and eBay

In today’s world, Craigslist and eBay are what newspaper classified ads were in the 1960s. If you need something and you can’t seem to track it down, they should be your go-to’s. Depending on the type of part you need to fix your broken down car, it may make more sense to look only for options with local pickup to avoid paying shipping costs. Otherwise, you have the ability to search worldwide!

Hunting around to find a used car part may seem like a challenge, but with these suggestions and a little patience, your bank account will certainly thank you! 

At Robertson’s Auto Salvage, we offer our inventory online and at our salvage yard in Wareham, MA. Have a question? Give us a call at (800) 551-7000.