Hotshot Connect Forum :: Winterize Your Pickup Truck

admin · Site Admin

Winterize Your Pickup Truck
From Dale Wickell,
Your Guide to Trucks.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!
Get Your Truck Ready to Drive in Cold Weather
You may think your truck is tough, but is it tough enough for winter? For many of us, winter brings cold, snow, and ice--all conditions that can tax every part of your pickup. All systems should be prepared for winter, from the battery, to the cooling system, to the paint.

Check the Antifreeze
Antifreeze and water are normally mixed at a 50/50 ratio--half water, half antifreeze, a mix that usually brings your protection level to twenty degrees below zero.
If your area temperatures dip below zero, drain a small amount of mix from the radiator and replace it with straight antifreeze. Check the protection level and repeat to adjust as needed.

Too much antifreeze can cause cooling problems in hot weather, so don't get carried away, or plan to change it when spring arrives.

Check the Battery
Water should cover the lead plates inside your pickup truck's battery. If levels are low, add distilled water. Adding water will dilute the electrolyte solution within the battery, so be sure to recharge it afterwards.
More battery checks:

Make sure battery cables and terminals are clean and tight.

Remember that no matter what you do, a battery can fail without warning.

Winter Tire Safety
Tires should have good tread. Inspect them for wear.

Cold temperatures lower tire pressure. Adjust pressure as needed based on the manufacturer's recommendation. Remember that pressure stats printed on sidewalls indicate the maximum amount of air pressure tires should be inflated with. They are not recommended pressures.
Switch to snow tires if you must regularly travel through snow, or if the snow you do get falls on hilly or steep roads.

Depending on your weather and road conditions, you may need to use either studded snow tires or tire chains. Many states have laws prohibiting their use or limiting use to certain months of the year, because using chains or studded tires on dry roads can cause damage to roads. Chains and studs greatly increase stopping distance on hard roads, so must be used with care.

Windshield Washer Maintenance
Use a washer solution that won't freeze in your winter temperatures.

Top-off the solution regularly since you'll use your windshield washers more often when traveling on slushy streets.

Wiper Blades
Replace wiper blades that are more than six months old.

If there's frost, frozen rain, or snow on your windshield, make sure wipers are free before turning them on, otherwise you may end up with torn blades, a blown wiper fuse, or a damaged wiper motor.

Engine Oil Changes
Check your owner's manual for the recommended viscosity of oil that's appropriate for your winter temperatures.

Stay up-to-date on oil changes.

Four Wheel Drive Operation
If your truck has 4WD, check the operation of all components. Make sure items such as locking hubs, the transfer lever, and push button engagement all move freely and actually engage and disengage. The middle of a snow storm is not the time to find out that your 4WD doesn't work.
Everyone who drives your truck should know how to operate its 4WD system.

Paint Protection
Cold, ice, snow, salt, and cinders are hard on your pickup truck's paint finish, so start winter with a good coat of wax.

Wash the truck as often as possible during the winter. Be sure to clean in the wheel wells and underneath the truck.

Tom Cobb · Site Admin

According to the weather prognozticators there is a frost warning up in the northern states around MI, WI area for tonight. First of the season.

I thought I was prepared last year but just didn't add enough anti-gel additive and the -5 deg in Ft Wayne got to me. One lesson learned from two winters up north was not to trust that the diesel you buy up there is winterized. Always add ant-gel at every fill up when in a cold climate or expecting to go where is is very cold. I am talking temps below 15 or 20 deg. It is not worth the hassles you will have if you don't so just do it.

Always buy anti-gel ahead of time and also carry a jug of PowerService 911.

admin · Site Admin

I was hung up in Miles City, MT for 5 days on a class 8 truck. Everything that could freeze did. Since, I have learned alot about preparing for the winter.
On a smaller truck, storage is a problem, but I always find room for PLENTY of Alcohol. This will keep your window wash free. It will melt all ice buildup on wipers and veiw area of windows.I also use it on my headlights to defreeze. On larger trucks with a air system Alcohol is a must for the air system.
I have seen ALOT of stuck trucks on the slightest signs of ice. Kitty Litter is the answer for this. throw a good portion of litter under the spinning
tire(s), and it acts as a traction device and you can pull right out. I was stuck at a loading dock with a inward decline. My truck wouldnt pull out of its own tracks.Another driver came over and put the litter down and I did not spin another tire pulling out. IT WORKS.
Bleach also helps,poured on tires, as a non slip.
Bismark,ND -28, Brakes froze up on Big Truck, Never set your brakes when they are hot. Let them cool down first.
Good Luck this winter and Be Safe.

Stroker

Heck Rose, I thought when I first started reading your post, you were just going to set in the truck and get drunk, when you said I always find room for plenty of alcohol. Laughing

admin · Site Admin

To Funny! I have thought about it . I hear it keeps the blood flowing too.
lol

Tom Cobb · Site Admin

Funny Stroker.

When I was stuck in Ft Wayne there were a bunch of big trucks stuck at the truck stops. The service trucks were backed up so much that it was hours to wait to get one to boost a truck. Fortunately a big truck driver was there that was willing to help. He unhooked his trailer so he could get his truck to where I was and gave me a jump. It took a while to get fuel flowing even with him giving me a boost on the batteries. Nice man and I sure did appreciate it. He wouldn't let me give him anything for what he did. There is still some good people around.