By making sure your car?s cooling system is working properly, you can avoid costly roadside breakdowns this winter.

Cooling system crucial when weather gets cold

With the leaves beginning to fall and the air turning crisp, now is a perfect time to take steps to prep your car for the busy and blustery months ahead. When temps plunge, and snowy, wet conditions rule the road, every part of your car has to work harder to perform at its best.

One of the most important systems in your vehicle to have checked out is the cooling system. Here's a quick cooling system checklist to help your car make it through the winter weather:

• When the white stuff hits, make sure you have plenty of the green stuff -- antifreeze.

Antifreeze can be one of the trickiest parts of your winterizing routine because, even though it has a strong green color, the additives could be worn out. This can cause the inside of your radiator to rust and if you are the type who "just adds water" when the level is down, your antifreeze mixture may have lost its ability to withstand freezing temperatures. You may have worthless green gunk under the hood.

• A good rule of thumb is to replace your antifreeze every two years. If you're not sure when your antifreeze was last changed, you can easily check its endurance and freeze point with an antifreeze tester (they cost less than $5 at any auto parts store). But if you're not a do-it-yourselfer, have it checked at a quick oil change or other service provider. They have more accurate and reliable testers.

• When it is time to replace your antifreeze, look for a product that prevents cold weather freeze-ups at temperatures well below -30 degrees Fahrenheit. Remember that antifreeze needs to be diluted with water in a 50-50 mixture.

• To round out your cooling system checklist, make sure that water pumps and thermostats work, check radiators and hoses for cracks and leaks, replace the radiator cap, and test heaters and defrosters for proper operation.