Winterizing the Festiva?

[stevea]

hey guys, i was just wondering if anyone has any suggestions on stuff to do to my car to 'winterize' it.. we just had our first thick snowfall yesterday and i realize my bumpers kind've look like they are full of snow.. should i plug those up? or cover the grill with some cardboard

[jr.fester]

some people toss cardboard in front of the rad to help the little motors keep heat in the winter. I like to put a bag of softener salt or a sand bag in the trunk. I find my back end swings out way to easy in the snow.

[Pocket_Rocket]

Well, I don't know were you live, but in my part of the country, rust-proofing the car is a no-brainer, I also add yellow Rain-X windshield washer fluid (after using it a couple times it treats the windshield, and ice is easier to scrape off), and I also carry booster cables, an oscar folding shovel, a couple pairs of gloves, and a blanket.

[Slyder]

All i do to winerize my car is put winter tires on it. and thats always worked for me.

[stevea]

ok cool thanks for the replys guys

[Pocket_Rocket]

Well the shovel, gloves and cable are usually to help people out, as I seem to always stumble on people that get stuck in the snow...But I never had to use the above for the Festy!!!

[WmWatt]

Block heater. Saves gas if you warm up the engine for as little as half an hour.
Check the anti-freeze.
Check the battery. Many places will test the battery for free. I have a charger and use it once a month in winter. I also carry booster cables but some people carry those spare battery things.

[milehighbear]

if you use cardboard, make sure you secure it to the front of grill cause if it gets loose and leans up against the exhaust manifold (I really thought i had made it big enough not to fall back) it will burn and smells just like burning leaves, lol.

[jglutz]

Every other fall (18-24K) I flush the cooling system, change the t'stat and gasket, and change all of the rubber (hoses and belts)

I also install the full boot winter wipers....just a little ice in the wrong spot can trash a conventional wiper.

Put a set of cable chains and ice scrapper in the car.

Lube the parking brake cable....do that in the spring also.

Lube all of the locks....key holes and latches with white grease.

[mnemonicoverload]

I rotate the tires (I use all-seasons), inspect the brakes (every fall and spring), check the anti-freeze to make sure it's not too dilute for the temps I'm expecting, get the bottom of the car oil-guarded, and sand down any rust spots on the body and fill / spray-primer them as needed.

[25Horseplay]

I winterize mine with a cover in the garage!

[elcamino1]

I winterize mine with a cover in the garage!

Ditto!!!!

[deathegg]

Also, remember to have some food in the car (sports bars, etc), just in case you do get stuck somewhere and have to eat. But in many many years of driving the DeathEgg in Pittsburgh, I never got stuck. (unlike my old Gremlin V-8).

Also, remember to put the winter air in the tires!

[solatare]

check tires check hoses seals wipers at start of cold weather and monthly until it gets warm. for my habits and area i dont need snow tires.i also change my oil when it gets cold since i run 20w-50 synthetic in summer, winter i use 15w-50 or 5 if i can find it. yea its thick and everyone thinks its overkill for the little beast, but with elevations of 5000 feet and lots of hills i run lots of rpms most of the time.

[88FestivaLX]

Man I'm glad it doesn't get very cold down here....but at least my heat works when it does! Well, it works if I set it to defrost, ha. I run 20w-50 in my Mustang since I built the motor (stock shortblock which I didn't touch, aluminum heads, cam etc.). On a hot summer day I have 40 psi of oil pressure at a hot idle. Anyone think that would be too thick for the colder months? (cold here is upper 20's at the coldest normally)