WINTER CAR CARE – TIPS TO MAINTAIN YOUR CAR IN WINTER

Winter Car care is a big commitment for everyone. You need to service it from time to time and must take care of it all the time. Out of all negativity, there are many advantages to a car. In winter you need to take special care of your car. The battery corrodes, engine oil thickens, car body starts to rust, and more and more. In this post, we will tell you what the tips are to maintain a car in winter or, in other words, how to do the winter car care properly.

1. Check the Tires

In winters, the roads are wet due to snow and many accidents occur due to this fact. For a safe journey, you should always check the tires of your car. You can try the coin test to check the tire treads. First of all, you need a coin and check if the outer lining of the coin is visible or not. If it is visible then, it is a good sign you should get new tires.

While getting new tires, you must make sure that they possess a good grip. With good grips, you can comfortably ride through the slippery, icy roads, and severe conditions. It will prevent accidents and you will experience an enjoyable ride. Checking tire pressure is also an important part of the winter car care checklist. You should try to maintain tire pressure in the range which was mentioned to you from your vehicle manufacturer.

Getting a winter tire is highly advised when living in the snowiest places like Toronto or Montreal. But if you are in Vancouver, you really don’t need winter tires.

2. Engine Oil

In winters, you should always check the engine oil as when the temperature drops, the engine oil thickens which will further damage your engine. If the engine oil thickens, the engine will not turn up, and it will be a huge trouble for you to melt the thickened oil and revive the engine. There is a saying that says, “better be safe than sorry.” So, try to check the engine oil from time to time for winter car care.

When you notice the thickening of engine oil, you should change it as soon as possible. Always check SAE ratings while purchasing the motor oil, the lower the rating, the lower the rate of thickening of oil and hence the better served oil for winter. 5W has the best rating, and it will offer you the best engine turnover in lower temperatures.

3. Battery Corrosion

Battery plays an essential role in the car. It turns on all the electrical appliances before the car even starts. The battery is a very weak part of the car; in normal temperature, the battery needs so much care, and when the temperature drops, it’s like you have to take care of it like a baby.

Check for corrosion from time to time, and if there is corrosion, then you need to change the battery, but if there isn’t any, then here is the tip on how to prevent it from happening. Grab a tub of petroleum jelly and apply it onto the terminals of the battery. It will lock out the moisture and will prevent it from corroding.

4. Check For Minor or Major Cracks

Always check for cracks on the windshield and windows, not only major or bigger ones but also minor or smaller ones. It’s time to fill those cracks. Minor cracks may look harmless, but water can seep through them and create trouble for you.

5. Check The Wiper Blades

In winters, the wiper blade tends to work improperly as they can’t clear the moisture totally out of the windshield. It is important to change the windshield every 6 months. Whether it is of very top quality, it will only work well until 6 months. In fact, you should keep a jar of windshield washer back in your trunk. This is must thing in our winter car care checklist.

If you have changed the wiper blades, and every time you go out, always ensure that you clean the wiper blades precisely so that there is no snow stuck in them. Always clear windows before heading out, do it manually, and clear the screen properly.

6. Fill The Gas Tanks Properly

For winter car care always fill up the gas tank, the gas will prevent the freezing up of the fuel tanks. Try to take your car for rides frequently so that the fuel tank does not freeze up. If you get stuck in a snowstorm, then you should keep the engine running so that the fuel pump does not freeze. If you do not have a proper amount of gas, then you will be in great trouble.

7. Survival Kit

You never know what could happen if you are out on the road by yourself, especially on a snowy day and far away from home. We hope that it doesn’t happen to you, but in a case where you are caught up in a situation in which you can not even call out for help, it always pays out to have a survival emergency kit for winter. This kit should include but not limited to blanket, lighter, knife, flashlight, and few perishable food items.

To conclude

These were some tips you can use to maintain your car in icy cold weather. If you follow the above tips, you will be able to survive this winter with no harm to you or your car. If your car is in good health, then you can drive around the town freely and confidently. There are lot more things than this basic winter car care checklist. As an owner, it is your responsibility to maintain your vehicle in good shape and condition, and in return, it will not leave you stranded on unknown road. If you ever wondered about how to fix a flat tire then you would like our featured post on detailing on how fixing a flat tire without a spare tire.