Protect Yourself and Your Family by Getting Your Car Ready for Winter

Nov 29, 2018

If you’re living in or traveling to a cold-climate region during winter, you should take measures to keep your vehicle in good condition and stay safe on the road. Extreme cold can pose challenges for your vehicle, while slippery roads and poor visibility can increase your risk of accidents. Follow these tips to protect yourself, your family, and your vehicle this winter.

Refill or Replace All Fluids

Whether you prefer to do regular maintenance yourself or take your car to an auto shop, it’s essential to check your fluid levels. There are basically three types of fluids you need to check: coolant, engine oil, and wiper fluid.

Make sure you have the right mixture of antifreeze and water to prevent the fluid in the radiator from freezing. You can find information on the mixture in your owner’s manual. Some mechanics recommend using a thinner engine oil if you live in an area where temperatures fall below freezing. However, the best thing to do is to talk to your regular mechanic or consult your owner’s manual. Wiper fluid is often overlooked, but it serves the important purpose of improving visibility on the road. Use freeze-resistant fluid to keep your windshield clean and clear.

Check or Replace All Tires

Low tire pressure and worn tires can reduce traction on wet and slippery roads. Check the air pressure in your tires and inflate them to the recommended PSI in your owner’s manual. If your tires have less than 2/32 inch of tread, it’s time to place them. Also, consider snow tires instead of all-season tires if you’re residing in a place with a lot of snowfall. Make sure you change all four tires because a mix of winter and summer tires can do damage to your vehicle.

Inspect the Battery

Cold weather not only makes it harder to start your engine, it also reduces your battery capacity. To ensure that your vehicle will be ready for winter, you need to thoroughly inspect your battery, including its terminals, cables, and fluid.

Check the battery terminals for loose connections and the cables for breaks and cracks. You can find out if you have enough battery fluid by opening one or more refill holes. If the fluid level is lower than the bottom of the cap, you need to refill with distilled water. In addition, check the level of charge remaining in your battery. Some batteries come with a built-in hydrometer eye that shows the amount of voltage left in them. If your battery doesn’t have this feature, you can use a handheld hydrometer instead.

Besides winterizing your vehicle, you should also pack an emergency kit so that you’ll always be prepared for unexpected situations. The kit should include road flares, jack, lug wrench, flashlight, first-aid kit, small shovel, ice scraper, extra coolant, leather gloves, blanket, and snacks. Getting your vehicle ready for winter can help you avoid unnecessary hassle and costs and keep you and your family safe on the road.