Westworld Alberta

38 W E S T W O R L D A L B E R T A | W I N T E R 2 0 1 5 TANIA STEPANICK OF AMA's Edmonton Road- side Assistance team has first-hand experience help- ing people unprepared for winter driving. "I'm always surprised how many people don't bother to plug in their block heaters when it gets below -15 C." It's an oversight that leads to her most common type of call, riding to their rescue with booster cables. And a note from Stepanick, you don't have to plug in all night long. She recommends you install a timer and pro- gram it to turn on two or three hours before you need to drive. How long will my battery last? In Alberta, batteries typically last three to five years. But a number of factors such as extreme heat and cold can also affect the lifespan. If you don't know how old your battery is, look for a stamp on the bat- tery. While you're under the hood, clean corrosion or dirt from your car battery's posts with a wire brush to make sure it connects properly. If you're unsure about your battery's performance, we recommend you call AMA's mobile battery testing service. Why switch oil during the winter? In sub-zero temperatures some oils become thick and gummy, making it harder for the oil to flow through all the moving parts in your engine. Switch to a synthetic oil that has a lower viscosity and will stay thin thereby flowing easily through your engine. Do I really need winter tires? "Having winched my share of bald-tired vehicles out of ditches, I'm a big believer in winter tires. ey've gotten so much better lately and there are so many choices. ere's even a new class called all-weather tires, not to be confused with all-season that aren't appropriate in the winter." When buying tires, look for the snowflake emblem on the sidewall. Always maintain the recommended pressure and check your tires more often in winter. W DRIVING Keep your eyes on the road and not on your phone. Download the AMA Road Reporter App at the Apple Store and Google Play. Whether you're a new driver or an experienced driver and winter driving gives you the chills (literally), we can help. Learn more about our Winter Driving Program at AMADriverEducation.ca Not sure if your battery will make it through the winter? AMA's mobile battery service can come to your home or workplace and test your vehi- cle's battery for free before it's too late. If you need to replace it, we'll install it on the spot for free. ama.ab.ca/ CAABatteryService Falling temperatures reduce tire pressure from one to two PSI for every 10 degrees, so top up to maintain recom- mended inflation. AMA members can pump up their tires for free at four AMA centres: Edmonton Kingsway, Edmonton South, Calgary Main and Calgary Crowfoot. ARE YOU PREPARED? WHEN THE WEATHER GETS COLD YOUR VEHICLE NEEDS SOME EXTRA MAINTENANCE. HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW. By Kevin Brooker Extra! Extra! It's hard to believe that we get hundreds of calls for lockouts each month, but when folks are in a rush, we know mistakes happen. Make it a plan this winter to keep an extra key in your purse or briefcase, at work or at home. Don't store an extra car key in a magnet on the undercarriage because thieves can find those easily. READY FOR WINTER?

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