No season gets more animosity from more people than winter. Ask people about fall or spring and watch them smile as they think about beautiful leaves and new plant life. Summer conjures up beautiful sunshine and backyard barbecues. Winter makes people think of cold and snow, sleet, or rain. Unfortunately, winter is also your car’s least favorite season, as it tends to be the hardest on vehicles for a variety of reasons. That leaves you with two choices. First, you could move to a tropical climate. Or second, you can follow these tips to make sure your car is ready for winter.
Take Care of Your Tires
Whether you live in a snowy climate or not, winter tires are recommended if temperatures regularly fall below 45 degrees since they have better traction for cold pavement. No matter what kind of tires you have, though, you want to be sure to check the pressure weekly. Your tires lose a pound of pressure for every ten-degree drop in temperature, and driving on underinflated tires means you need to replace them more quickly because the tread will wear rapidly.
Fill Your Gas Tank and Windshield Wiper Fluid More Often
In colder weather, you want to try to keep your gas tank at least 1/4 tank full at all times, as this prevents any accumulated water in your fuel pump from freezing and helps keep the engine running even if you get stuck. You also want to keep your windshield wiper fluid as full as possible, so you are prepared to wash away any messy road debris that splashes onto your car.
Check Your Lights and Your Battery
Since the sun sets earlier in the winter months, you use your lights significantly more. Thus, you want to be sure to check them as winter begins to ensure that they are in excellent working condition. While inspecting your lights, you should also check your battery to be sure it is functioning well. Your car’s battery has a harder time as the temperature drops, so you want to replace it if it is not at its peak in the fall. Otherwise, you will likely end up with a vehicle that simply will not start in the winter.
Make Sure the Defroster Is Working Well
Though this one may seem obvious, it is often overlooked by car owners. In the summer/fall, we don’t really notice if the heat isn’t working as it should. However, once a cold day hits and the windshields are frosting up, that becomes apparent very quickly, and it could be hazardous. So, make a note to yourself to be proactive and check this vital function in the fall.
Following these tips will help keep you safe as you drive in the winter months. They will also help keep repair costs lower for your vehicle. More than anything, however, following these guidelines will help keep your car running smoothly and happily all winter long — even if you are not.
Photo by Petr Magera | Licensed under cc BY 2.0
