With summer long gone and fall rapidly fading into the rear view, winter is looming in the distance. That means it’s time to prep your car for the added stress of winter weather and driving. If you’re not sure where to start, don’t fret. Here are some simple tips to get your car prepped for the coming season.
Check the Coolant
In summer, fall, and spring, you can get away with putting water in your radiator to save money, but when winter comes, it presents a potentially disastrous problem. When temperatures plummet below freezing, this water can freeze, causing damage to your radiator and engine, as well as causing the components to overheat. To keep your engine from freezing, consider a coolant flush. This removes the sediment that’s built up in the coolant. Also consider adding new antifreeze to keep your car running smoothly all winter long.
Inspect Your Tires
Even if your vehicle has exceptional safety features, your tires are the only things that actually touch the road. That makes them the single most important aspect of your car in respect to safety. Without proper traction or inflation, your tires won’t grip the road, making accidents more likely. That’s why it’s important to check your tires at least once a month in fall and once a week in winter. During these seasons, your tires can lose up to 1 PSI (pounds per square inch) of pressure for every 10-degree temperature drop. In addition, you should check your tire treads to make sure they’re deep enough for grip in adverse weather, ice, and snow.
Windshield Inspection
When freezing rain, sleet, and snowfall, it’s important to have your windshield clear. Before winter, inspect your windshield for cracks and chips, and get them fixed by a professional. If you have any significant cracks, you might want to replace the entire windshield, as it can cause visibility problems and might even be illegal. You should inspect your windshield wiper blades to make sure they aren’t torn, and if they’re six months old or older, replace them. Don’t forget to check your windshield wiper fluid during this process, and if you have water in the reservoir, replace it with a solution that has a very low freezing point.
Pack an Emergency Kit
Hopefully, you’ll never get stranded on the side of the road during winter, but it’s always better to prepare for the worst. That’s why you need to pack an emergency kit in the trunk of your vehicle. This kit should include items such as nonperishable food, bottled water, flares, a tire repair kit, extra cell phone batteries, blankets, shoes, and an extra pair of clothes. It’s always better to err on the side of caution, so if you feel like you’ve packed too much, it’s probably just right.
Winter can wreak havoc on your car, so it’s important to address any issues before frigid weather hits. It’s not only smart, but it’s also a great way to protect your investment.
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