If you were one of the unlucky Snohomish drivers this past week that had to navigate your vehicle down Avenue D, we're sorry. The combination of melting ice and snow chains made for a very hazardous road surface.

Over the course of a typical winter, drivers have at least one encounter with a seemingly bottomless pothole or a maze of smaller ice holes that seem to rattle their vehicle apart. This year's freak snowstorm has brought us many more obstacles in our day to day driving than we are used to. Minor collisions with curbs and other obstacles as a result of wet or icy road conditions is a fact of life.
What drivers might not realize is that any pothole, curb or other road hazard can damage a vehicle's steering and suspension system. You may be unaware that just one impact can jar the vehicle out of alignment, potentially damaging safety-critical chassis parts.

"Drivers should be warned that you could even bend tie rods and control arms" said Lin Hill owner of Dynamic Diesel and Bear Alignment. "Even I as an owner of a 4X4 was looking for alternative routes to work to get around some of those hazardous roads" he said.

"Be proactive in looking for signs that your vehicle's steering and suspension need to be re-aligned" Hill said. Signs may include; steering wheel off-center, steering wander, a pull to either side, loose steering, vibration at certain speeds, increased road noise and uneven tire wear are a few. Safety is the number one reason you should ask your local service provider if it's time to re-align your vehicle. If he or she recommends replacement of any steering and suspension part, don't hesitate to have the repair completed. Remember, you have a lot riding on it.

Lin and Lorene Hill, the owners of Dynamic Diesel and Bear Alignment first opened their doors in Lynnwood, the year was 1992. In 2002 they moved their operation to the City of Snohomish and are located at 9911 Airport Way. They pride themselves in their quest to educate the public on the importance of vehicle maintenance, fixing small problems before they become big expensive ones.

For example: the oversight in winter to forget about your cooling system. Many drivers are fixated on the word "cooling" in cooling system, so if it's cold outside then they don't care about the cooling system, this is false. It is true that the coolant in your radiator in the summer is typically the same in the winter; at least it is here in Snohomish with our mild climate. But you need that protection both ways, keeping your engine safe in the heat and in the cold. The mixture of antifreeze and water is a nice fluorescent green color.

Normal proportion of antifreeze to water would be 50-50. A 50-50 mixture can handle freezing temperatures down to about -30 degrees below 0. It is crucial that the ratio of antifreeze and water is correct. If you have more water that coolant, get ready for trouble in an unexpected winter storm or hard freeze.

"You can avoid a costly disaster; all you need is the correct proportion. We will test your system for free to ensure your protection" said Hill.

If you are one of those people who don't really know where the engine is located and don't really care& ask the staff at Dynamic Diesel for help, they enjoy working with the community and are usually available to answer your questions. Give them a call at 360-862-9009 or on the web, www.dynamicdiesel.com.