Driving around Commerce City
I-270, I-76, Vasquez Blvd (US 6/85) and CO 2, with a lot of semi traffic around the refinery and rail yards.
Heavy truck traffic means more debris and more rock chips. Fix windshield chips early, before cold mornings turn them into cracks.
Front Range driving, in general
- Altitude. At a mile up, non-turbo engines make noticeably less power and turbos work harder. Coolant boils at a lower temperature too, so a weak radiator cap or a small leak shows up sooner here.
- Hail. Spring and summer storms can total a car in ten minutes. Comprehensive coverage and a garage are the real fix.
- Winter. Magnesium chloride on the roads is hard on brake lines, exhaust parts and undercarriages. Rinse the underside in spring.
- Mountain grades. I-70 and US 285 are hard on brakes and cooling systems. Fresh brake fluid and a healthy water pump matter more here than at sea level.