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Tom Crann
St. Paul, Minn.

How to prepare your car for the cold

Clearing snow
University of Minnesota Duluth student Melanie Schmidt clears snow from her car earlier this winter.
Derek Montgomery / For MPR News

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With temperatures forecast to drop to "dangerous" levels Sunday night and Monday, Joanne Rhiger, director of automotive services for AAA Minnesota/Iowa, and her crew are getting ready to help a flood of drivers seeking help.

AAA Minnesota/Iowa is expecting three to four times the normal call volume, said Rhiger, and drivers seeking non-emergency help can expect to wait three to six hours for someone to respond.

Rhiger joined MPR News' Tom Crann to share some cold weather car tips.

Why don't cars start when it's very cold?

It's all about the battery, Rhiger said. Newer cars don't have as much trouble starting. "Older cars are older. It takes more to get them going," she said. However, if your battery is 3-5 years old, no matter the age of your car, "it might not want to work as well."

What can people do to prepare?

• Read your owner's manual. There are sections on how to prepare for winter. For instance, what type of oil should you be using?

• If you drive a diesel vehicle, use a proper #2 winter mix.

• Have at least a quarter of tank of gas at all times. If you're traveling far, you should have half a tank. You don't want to run out of gas in this weather. "We don't want to see anyone stranded for five minutes too long," Rhiger said.