Preparing Your Car for Winter – Five Tips

17 Oct Preparing Your Car for Winter – Five Tips

Last week, we took a look at Ten Simple Steps to Winterize Your Home. This week, as we continue to brace ourselves for the upcoming winter, we’ll share some tips for preparing your car for cold weather. Most of this is common sense for experienced drivers, but a little reminder never hurt.

Have Your Tires Rotated and Balanced

Photo courtesy www.wikimediacommons.org

Uneven wear on tires leads to decreased grip of the road. Icy conditions are dangerous enough. Properly maintaining your tires could be the difference between a near miss or taking out the neighbor’s mailbox.

Fix Engine Problems Before the Cold Hits

Severe temperatures exacerbate existing problems. If your car idles loudly, has trouble starting, seems under-powered, or exhibits other symptoms of a problem, have it looked at by a qualified mechanic sooner, rather than later.

Replace Your Wiper Blades and Fluid

When the snow, sleet, or freezing rain hits, you’ll want to have the best visibility possible. New wiper blades and plenty of wiper fluid are a must. For the best results, purchase a fluid that contains a de-icer.

Stock Your Car

It never fails that the first storm hits before you’ve put the window scraper back in the car, leaving you to scrape the windows with a credit card or sit in the car for twenty minutes, roasting, with the heat at full blast in an attempt to melt the ice from the inside out. Go ahead and throw that scraper into the trunk now, and avoid the beet-red hands, broken credit card, or beaded brow. Chances are, you’ll need it sooner than you think. While you’re at it, throw in a blanket and shovel, and stick some protein bars in the glove box. Hopefully you won’t need them, but, on the off chance that you do get stuck, your stomach will thank you. Kitty litter’s good to have as well, but if you find yourself stuck without it, you can place your floor mats under the tires to help get traction.

Check the Antifreeze

It’s pretty frustrating to be stuck in subzero temperatures with an overheated car. But if your car doesn’t have enough antifreeze, the water in the cooling system will freeze and lead to just this scenario.

Conclusion

Taking a few steps this fall to prepare your car for winter can save you many headaches – and possibly even save a life. Follow these simple steps to help ensure that you and your car are ready for the cold, ice, and snow that lie ahead.