There is no doubt about it. You can feel it in the air, winter is ready to rock and roll but is your car ready for winter?
You should think about having your vehicle winterized before the cold stuff really socks it to Chicago. Ice, hail, below freezing temps, and let’s not forget about rock salt, slush, and mud. Ugh.
If your vehicle is more than 5 years old, you should take extra precautions to prepare for winter driving conditions so you can be ready for anything Mother Nature throws our way.
Top 10 Tips for Winterizing Your Vehicle
The last thing anyone wants is to be stranded somewhere with a dead car or one that doesn’t run as it should. While roadside assistance is available, how many times have you been told that the service is super busy, and it will be hours before they get to you?
The following tips will help to prevent winter-related car problems.
- Inspect the Battery
This is the #1 issue when the weather turns really cold. A marginal battery that might seem perfectly fine in 60-degree weather will die a quick death once it hits 35 or below. Cold reduces the power of your battery so if yours isn’t 100%, chances are that it will give you trouble at the worst possible time.
You can’t tell if a battery will fail from looking at it. Have the professionals at My Mechanic test and inspect your battery to see if it will hold a charge. If your battery is 4 years old or older, chances are that it’s ready to kick the bucket.
Our experts will test your battery, inspect the case, and all the terminals and connections to ensure that everything is clean and makes a good connection.
- Inspect Tires and Tire Pressure
When was the last time you took a good look at all 4 tires? Tires are one of the most important safety features on your vehicle. These are what connect your car or SUV to the road, so they must be in good condition and be properly inflated. You lose about 1 pound of air for every 10 degrees drop in temperature.
All 4 tires should have good tread, with at least 4/32nds of tread life left. There should be no bubbles, no bald spots, and no large chunks missing. If you use winter or snow tires, you might consider changing them this month.
If you aren’t sure about the condition of your tires, or if you are ready to switch your tires over to snow tires, the trained professionals at My Mechanic will be glad to inspect your tires and explain their overall condition or switch out your summer tires for winter tires.
- Check the Coolant
Sometimes called antifreeze, the coolant in your car’s radiator can freeze if it doesn’t contain the proper mixture of water and coolant. If your vehicle has a small leak and you’ve been adding water all summer, chances are that you’ve got too much water in the cooling system. Time to repair that leak and refill the radiator and motor with the proper mixture of fresh coolant. Coolant loses its anti-freezing ability over time. If it freezes, it will cause major engine damage. It also becomes acidic over time, causing corrosion to the engine and other components. Flushing and filling the cooling system is extremely important. It should be done at least every 5 years or when cooling system repairs are done.
- Wiper Blades
It’s a scary feeling when you can’t see clearly while driving, especially in bad weather. The wiper blades on your vehicle do a terrific job of clearing snow, rain, and mud from the front and rear windshield but only when they are in good condition.
Most wiper blades are made from rubber, which dries out in the hot summer months. Most people find that changing the front and rear wiper blades every other year is a good safety measure that can help you see clearly, regardless of the weather.
If you aren’t sure when you changed them last, you might want to consider changing them now as a safety precaution.
- Washer Fluid
If you don’t already use a windshield washer fluid that is freezing weather-resistant, you should change it now. This way, even in the worst weather, you can keep the windshield clean and clear.
- Wax the Headlights
If you are preparing to give your ride a nice wax to protect it through the winter months, wax the headlight covers as well. Slush, snow, and road salt can really stick to those plastic covers and prevent you from seeing as well as from being seen by others.
A light coat of wax over the plastic headlight covers will make snow and mud slip right off, rather than stick to the lights.
- Change the Oil
When the really cold weather hits, your car needs a lighter weight oil to help it start more easily. It’s probably time for your regular oil change anyway, so why not get it taken care of right now, before everyone clogs up the mechanic’s shops looking to change to a more winter-friendly oil?
- Prevent Frozen Car Doors
Ugh! If you have ever struggled with a frozen car door, you know what a pain in the butt that can be! You can prevent that by using something as simple as a dab of olive oil or cooking spray. Just a little bit goes a long way, so add a small amount to a rag, then wipe the rubber seal that goes around your doors. When the temperature gets below 25 degrees Fahrenheit outside, DON’T GO TO THE CAR WASH! Locks, doors, windows, trunks, and any exterior body parts will freeze up!
- Inspect Belts and Hoses
Cold temperatures can really wreak havoc on the belts and hoses in your car. You certainly don’t want to be stranded with a broken belt or hose in the middle of a snowstorm! If you aren’t sure about the condition of these items, or if you can’t even see all of them (which is a quite common issue) Drop by My Mechanic. Our professional team of mechanics will be happy to inspect your belts and hoses and tell you if they need replacing.
- Emergency Kit
Despite your best efforts, emergencies happen. If you have an emergency kit, it’s time to give it a once over. Replace the batteries in the flashlights, double-check any food or water you might have stored to see if it needs to be replaced (or if it got used since last winter).
If you don’t have an emergency kit, this is the time to make one. A typical kit should include:
- Jumper cables or a portable jump starter
- Small tool kit
- Tire Chains
- De-icing fluid (glycerin)
- Tire gauge
- Tire Changing Essentials, including the jack, lug wrench, and a good spare tire
- Blankets (even those aluminum emergency blankets are better than nothing), gloves, snow hat, spare pair of dry socks, and a few rags or an old towel
- First Aid Kit
- Extra coolant
- Duct Tape
- Water and Snacks
- Flashlights
- Flares
You might decide to add a few other items depending on your unique situation. Some people like to have a days’ worth of medications, a cell phone battery pack, and other items that you might deem necessary in case you become stranded.
Pro-Tip
We have seen a great many mishaps over the years, but a common one is also running out of gas. Even if you think you have enough gas to get to work and then to the gas station, all it takes is one accident to delay you for hours, which means either shutting off the car (and the heater!) or running out of gas.
During this time of year, we recommend that you always refill the tank once you hit the halfway mark. It is far better to be safe than freezing cold.
If you need help winterizing your vehicle or if it’s simply time for your car, truck, or SUV to be serviced, you can trust the ASE certified professionals at My Mechanic to keep your vehicle in tip-top shape for the upcoming winter weather.
