How To Prepare Your Car For Winter In 10 Easy Steps
“Winter is coming”, as Ned Stark once said. However, Ned didn’t have to deal with constantly fixing up his car. As the seasons change, it seems our lists of chores just get longer and longer. Tend to the garden, rake up the leaves, fix up the drafts in the house, clear space for the winter clothes and so on. However, in our endless list of tasks, winterizing the car often gets left behind. And even if you do remember to do some work on it, we often forget some pretty important steps. That’s why today we are going to help show you all the steps that are needed when it comes to how to prepare your car for winter. From the smallest of details to the most obvious things, everything you need to know is here.
As the seasons change, it seems our lists of chores just get longer and longer
Why Should I Winterize My Car?
You would take the time to winterize your home or garden, so why shouldn’t the same go for your car as well. Winterizing your car holds a ton of benefits. The first and foremost is that it can save you money in the long run. By making small investments here and there, you are potentially avoiding huge maintenance issues and costly repairs. Another reason is that you will preserve your tires. New tires are pricey, but taking care of your old ones during this harsh season will help expand their lifespan. By preparing your car for the cold season you also ensure that your passengers stay safe. After all, winterization isn’t just about saving money and preserving the car, it’s also to ensure the safety of everyone in the vehicle.
Winterizing your car holds a ton of benefits
How To Prepare Your Car For Winter
Now that we’ve reminded you why winterization of your vehicle is important, let’s see what the proper steps in doing so are. While you may need the help of a mechanics for some tasks, some you can easily do by yourself. Either way, it’s still recommended you do them one way or the other in order to ensure your safety and save a couple of bucks in the long run.
While you may need the help of a mechanics for some tasks, some you can easily do by yourself
#Tire Care
Your tires need a lot of love this cold season. You need to start off by changing into your winter tires, as they have more resistance, prevent skidding and firmly secure the vehicle to the ground. Then you need to keep on checking your tire pressure throughout the season, as it can become an issue once the temperature starts to drop. Low tire pressure can decrease your gas mileage, reduces control of the car and wears out the tires much faster. It’s also a good idea to check the tire thread depth. Worn out tires with minimal depth won’t do you any good during the cold season.
You need to start off by changing into your winter tires, as they have more resistance
#Check The Battery
Car batteries have the tendency to die during the cold weather due to the strain of the temperatures. This is because the motors are being asked to do a lot of work due to the motor oil thickening because of the temperatures. That’s why it’s a good idea to test your battery, the voltage, the starter, and the whole charging system and make sure it works. Also check there is no corrosion on the terminals. Plus, if it needs to be replaced, you will have enough time to get a new one, and you won’t be left with a dead battery right when you need the car.
Car batteries have the tendency to die during the cold weather
#Brake Inspection
Your brakes are a vital part of your car, and it’s very important you can stop on the slippery roads. During winter, the brakes are under more strain than any other season. That’s why it’s recommended you give them an inspection the least once or twice during this season. With all the moisture and salt during this season, you can get a lot of rust which reduces the effectiveness of your rotors.
During winter, the brakes are under more strain than any other season
#Fluids
Your car needs a ton of different fluids to run smoothly. That’s why it’s a good idea to go in for an oil change, if your car hasn’t been serviced in a while. You should also replace your brake and windshield fluids, top up on the antifreeze, coolant and so on. All fluids should be on your winter to-do list.
Your car needs a ton of different fluids to run smoothly
#Change The Wipers
When it comes to winter, it’s one of the seasons where visibility is quite low. You are constantly getting bombarded by snow, dirt, and rain. Consequently, your wipers start to lose their effectiveness, you start to notice streaks, and it’s pretty hard to see through your windshield. This is a big no-no. So, once you start to notice your wiper squeaking, streaks everywhere and in general if they seem to not be doing their job, it may be time to change the wipers. Replacing or cleaning your wipers is a simple job and one that’s not costly. However, it can be a lifesaver.
You are constantly getting bombarded by snow, dirt, and rain
#Fill The Tanks
Well, this one may be a bit costly, but it is recommended. When there is a lot of empty space in the gas tank, moisture tends to build up. This moisture then dilutes the fuel, which put quite the strain on your pumps and other car parts. And don’t get us started if that moisture happens to freeze, then you are in for a lot more damage. So, the more the gas in the tank, the less space for moisture. This is especially recommended if you rarely drive your car during winter.
When there is a lot of empty space in the gas tank, moisture tends to build up
#Winter Survival Kit
Getting stuck in a roadside emergency is no fun, but it does happen from time to time. And if it does, you’ll be thankful for having prepared a winter survival kit beforehand. Getting stuck during harsh winter conditions can, in the worst case, cost your life, so it doesn’t hurt to be prepared. Here are some things you may need:
Getting stuck in a roadside emergency is no fun, but it does happen from time to time
- Shovel
- Torch
- Candle
- Spare Batteries
- Blanket
- Food and Drink
- Scraper
- De-icer
- Map
- Visibility Vest
- Snow Grips
- Chains
- First-Aid Kit
- Jumper Cable
- Towrope
- Warning Triangle
- Multi-Tool
- Knife
- Sand/Salt
You’ll be thankful for having prepared a winter survival kit beforehand
#Check The Lights
Another important step in preparing your car for winter is to check if all the lights are working. This includes everything – the indicators, headlights, rear reflectors, fog lights, license plate light and so on. Make sure all the bulbs are working and there are no cracks. You can also give them a good polish to see better in the bad weather conditions.
Check if all the lights are working and change bulbs if you need to
#Clean The Car
Your car is going to get super dirty during winter. Sadly, that’s just how it is. So, make sure to give it a good clean both inside and out. Give it a good vacuum and wash it on the outside. However, make sure you do this while it’s still warm and the water won’t cause any additional problems.
So, make sure to give it a good clean both inside and out
#Lubricate
If you want to prepare your car for winter all the way, you have to lubricate it. Water freezing in your windows, door locks, latches, and hinges can cause quite the serious problem, especially if you are in a hurry to get in during the morning. You can avoid this problem by lubing up these problem areas with some dry lubricant.
If you want to prepare your car for winter all the way, you have to lubricate it
This was how to prepare your car for the cold winter months. We hope you found this article useful. Now you won’t have to worry about your car giving up, freezing or having any problems that can be caused by the harsh weathers.
This was how to prepare your car for the cold winter months
Related Articles:
- Ultimate Checklist: Best Ways To Prepare Your Home For Winter
- How To Prepare Your Hydrangeas For Winter
- Prepare Your Roses For Winter
- Winterize Your Summer Home
- How To Prepare Your Lawn For Winter
Sources:
- Constellation ©
- Family Handyman ©
- Confused ©
- Insider ©
- Canada Drives ©
- All State ©
