The winter season can be rough on any vehicle. Slippery roads can cause accidents, and the freezing temperatures can put undue stress on your car’s components and cause them to break down. To avoid costly car repairs, it’s important to avoid the driving mistakes some car owners commit during winter.

Fortunately, residents of Loveland, OH, can bring their vehicles to Ken Marcotte's Professional Auto Service for winter car maintenance. Their highly skilled mechanics offer excellent car repair services, such as brake work, an engine tuneup, a wheel alignment, and an oil change.

Here are the driving habits you should avoid during winter:

• Using Summer Tires: Summer tires aren’t equipped for driving in snow and ice, leading to poor handling and braking. Winter tires, however, are made of more flexible rubber compounds that grip the road better, which makes driving easier and safer.
• Warming Up For Too Long: It’s advisable to warm up your car before leaving your driveway, but leaving it for too long is not recommended. Allowing your engine to stay idle for extended periods of time can damage your spark plugs and waste fuel.
• Not Cleaning Your Car: If you think skipping a much-needed car wash during winter is okay, you’re wrong. Road salt is useful in melting away snow, but it is also corrosive, and it accelerates rusting. If left unchecked, this will lead to costly repairs later.
• Forgetting Tire Pressure: Tires tend to lose their pressure in cooler temperatures. Underinflated tires wear faster and may result in poor steering and handling. Having your tires properly inflated will keep you safe and help them last longer.
• Not Filling Up On Fuel: It's not a good idea to wait until your tank is near-empty before filling up, especially during winter. Doing so will cause the air in your gas tank to moisten and freeze, leading to ice crystals and water getting into the fuel lines and blocking the flow of gas to the engine.

For your car repair and maintenance needs, trust the experts at Ken Marcotte's Professional Auto Service. Call (513) 683-7852 to speak with a mechanic or visit their website for more information. Don’t forget to like them on Facebook for more helpful winter tips and the latest updates.