How to Prepare Your Car for Winter

Winter can be tough on cars and if you take steps to properly winterize your vehicle, you can save yourself a lot of trouble down the road. Winterizing a vehicle is not difficult. Most automobile manufacturers have a predetermined maintenance schedule for each of their vehicles. This schedule can be found in the owner’s manual that is provided with every vehicle. Most vehicles require a full service analysis at regular annual intervals. Getting this done before winter sets in may help to prevent a number of problems later on.
One of the easiest and most important things you can do to help prepare your car for the coming winter is to have the radiator and cooling system flushed and replace the coolant. You can do this easily on your own or have your local garage or oil-change facility take care of it next time you’re in for an oil change. While you’re at it, check to make sure the heater and windshield defrosters are functioning properly.Being able to see through your windshield clearly is going to be very important once winter sets in. Most people simply do not think about replacing the windshield wipers until they discover that their wipers just aren’t up to the task. Replace wiper blades even if they are not completely worn or damaged. Another important thing to remember is to drain the windshield washer reservoir of fluid that may freeze once temperatures begin to drop. Use fluid that will not freeze in your reservoir. Make sure to get a winter-ready windshield wiper fluid that is designed to melt freezing rain and snow accumulation.

No one wants to get into a car and find out it won’t start because the battery is dead or the cables and connections may be corroded. Make certain terminals are clean where they connect to the battery. Even a small amount of corrosion may cause problems or even prevent a fully charged battery from starting your car. You may also wish to have the battery load-tested before winter. This test indicates the overall strength and ability of a battery to hold a proper charge. If the battery is more than 4 1/2 years old, you should replace it to avoid any problems.

Winter road surfaces can present some rather difficult challenges for your vehicle’s tires. Have a qualified auto repair technician check your tires for proper tread depth. To be considered safe and winter-ready, there should be at least .32mm (1/8 inch) of tread on your tires. Make certain the tires on your car are all-season tires designed for winter conditions. When cold temperatures arrive, the air pressure inside the tires may drop and cause them to become under inflated so check tire pressure regularly. Under inflated tires may decrease overall tire performance, especially on less than perfect winter roads. Check the spare for proper air pressure and make sure all tire-changing tools and equipment are in place.

Due to sometimes extreme winter temperature changes, moisture can condense inside parts of your car including the fuel and brake lines. Throughout the winter, especially in extremely colder climes, make a habit of keeping your fuel tank as full as possible in order to prevent moisture from freezing within the fuel lines. Have all the components of the brakes checked including drums, rotors and fluid lines.

Test belts to see if they are damaged, worn or frayed. The winter cold will likely place even more stress on these belts. Replacing them now is much easier than breaking down in a snow storm later. Check to see if the lights and turn signals are working properly. Replace bulbs, wiring, lenses or other equipment as needed. These seemingly minor items may not be much of a problem now when weather is still tolerable, but stressful winter driving conditions will likely make these repairs more difficult or could even cause a driving disaster on the road.

While hybrid vehicles do require the same winterization as other vehicles, some additional considerations should be made for the special technology and mechanical processes of these cars. A grill block consisting of a simple piece of cardboard can be placed between the vehicle grill and radiator to help improve the performance of the engine and increase mileage. Position this behind the grill trim so the cardboard will not affect the overall look of the car. Also, some heaters in hybrid cars may lose function and the fan may blow cold air when in idle-stop mode for about a minute or less. The best thing to do is make sure gloves and a blanket are in your car and easily accessible throughout the winter.

For diesel vehicles, consider installing glow plugs or using an electric engine or block heater, especially in areas where winter temperatures are extremely low for long periods of time. These heaters are designed to keep the motor warm and diesel motor fluids from getting too thick or gelling. There are also fuel supplements available that prevent some diesel fuel from gelling in extremely cold winter weather.

Finally, put together a winter emergency kit and keep it in your car all through the winter. In this age of high-technology, most people just do not consider they might be stranded in a vehicle during the winter. Relying on a cell phone may not be wise as batteries do fail and coverage may not be available in certain areas. Being prepared for any eventuality is always best. In the side pockets of a small duffel bag, place emergency flares, a lighter, some spare batteries and high-calorie foods like candy bars. Secure all items in separate zip-lock bags to prevent moisture. Keep a first aid kit in this duffel bag along with a serrated hunting knife in a sheath, and several warm blankets wrapped in large plastic garbage bags. In the event of an emergency, use a cell phone or OnStar if possible. If not, set up the road flares and remain in the vehicle until help arrives. There are some retailers and online sources that sell pre-packaged winter survival kits for use in vehicles. Making sure you have adequate car insurance before you set out on the icy roads is also a must!