First of all let me say that my car runs fine besides a slightly broken front motor mount.
I want to be proactive with the weather changing.
Is there anything inparticular that I should do to winterize my car?


she has 190,000 miles
k&n air filter
oil change at 3000

fix the mount. i let mine go and started having tranny and startup issues. Just had it fixed, and I'm told the car runs great now (at parents house for the winter)

Other than that, check the fluids, fill the washer fluid. maybe some anti-fog for the inside windshield. Just basic tune-up stuff

Where are you located??? If you haven't changed your coolant in a few years I would do that. And I would go with a non-drilled 195 degree thermostat. Check your hoses for any soft spots. Use 5W-30 Oil (I would use Dino if you change it every 3,000 miles). If your battery is more than 3 years old you might want to consider replacing it at this time. And that Prestone De-Icer Windshield Washer Fluid is great for those mornings when your car has a thin layer of frost on the Windshield. Suck the old brake fluid out of the reservoir and put some new stuff in. Maybe change your xmission oil/filter too? Grease the ball joints. Wash and Wax the car.

The only thing above normal maintenance that you should be doing is lubing your door seals and power antenna if applicable.

Otherwise.. your car should be in tip top shape right?

i'm in atlanta ga.
yeah i changed my coolant last weekend.
I had a tad bit of a knock (only right after I would change my oil ) So over the summer I went to 15w 30 to nurse my ball bearings for one cycle.
I now use 10w30 consistently.
would dropping to 5w30 now be wise being that 6 months ago I threw in some 15w30?
I

I think you meant the crankshaft bearings. And the "knocking" you hear is somewhat normal right after you change the oil and filter. When I had my Oldsmobile, it sounded like marbles were floating around for a few seconds until the new oil would pressurize the entire system. However, if what you are saying that this noise was constant, then you might have bigger issues. I would stick with 10W-30 all year round in Atlanta, GA.

The knocking noise is not normal after changing the oil and filter. That noise is indicating that your engine is shot. You can rebuild it or pay to have it rebuilt, but in the long run your much better off with a factory remanufactured engine.

Yep.. he should spend big money for a new motor? No way moto.. At best I'd suggest a Jasper engine from Napa.

Personally I'd put in a used motor from a junkyard with a warranty.

The car isn't worth enough money to spend on a factory reman, that'* simply ridiculous to suggest unless you are going to offer up your employee discount.

At the current time I would suggest continuing with the viscosity you are currently using.

Well, maybe my description wasn't clear. But the two H-bodies that I owned always "made a funny sounding noise" after I changed the oil. And they did that for a combined total of over 250,000 miles of oil changes so I don't think those engines were bad.

I want to do everything I can to take her to 300,000 miles
I want to do everything I can do to keep her around (like a sick grandma)
I proactive with preventative maintenance.

Thanx