Get Through The Tough Road By Winterizing Your Car

Getting ready for winter also means getting your car ready for the icy and snowy roads. Doing so lessens the possibilities of winter road accidents and other mishaps. After all, you don’t want getting stuck up in the middle of nowhere, with your engine coming to a halt, or your tires losing traction, or your wiper blades snapping into pieces down the road. Winterizing your car early on saves you your life, especially so if you live in an area where snow is non-stop.

Here are six easy steps to winterize your car. Do them as early as you can to get your car ready to face the toughest winter conditions.

1. Mind your tires. First off, check the tire pressure. As the temperature gets colder, tire pressure decreases. Generally, a temperature drop by 10ºF causes a pound per square inch loss in tire pressure. Inflate your car if needed, as deflated tires have significantly reduced traction and can be quite dangerous on icy and wet roads. To better ensure safety, you can choose to use snow tires during winter months, which are more equipped to handle adverse winter road conditions since they have better traction and control.

2. Inspect windshield wipers. Replace them if yours are more than a year, because if they are too old, chances are they won’t stand against the snow, and, as you know, it is seriously dangerous if the wiper blades split and break just when you are driving in the middle of a blizzard. Also, use windshield washer fluid in place of water to break the snow on the windshield. Before winter sets in, make sure your wipers are ready to do what they were created for: clear your windshield and give you a good view.

3. Check your oil. Oil works to lubricate the engine, but if it is too cold, oil thickens, which may be bad for the engine. Therefore, use the type of oil with less viscosity or thickness during winter months. You can check your owner’s manual to figure what type of oil your car needs during this season.

4. Examine your heater and defroster. Your heater functions to keep you warm and snug when you are driving, while the defroster makes sure that no moist fogs up the windshield. Make sure these two are working properly, as it is quite hard to drive while shaking in cold and with moist blocking your view.

5. Inspect your car battery. Usually batteries can last three to five years. If your battery is past that frame, it is time for a replacement. If it is not, you only need to do a thorough inspection on your battery. See if there are corrosions on the cables and other areas. Also, check if the battery fluid runs low, and if it does, carefully add distilled water onto it. Consult a car mechanic should you need more guidance in your battery inspection.

6. Keep an emergency kit. When winterizing your car, organize an emergency kit, which can have flashlights, bottles of oil and washer fluid, ice scraper, gloves, blanket, and every other tool and item that will keep you safe during your winter drive. Having an emergency kit is as equally important as checking all car parts.