With the harsh winter weather coming quickly upon us, it’s important to take the proper steps to protect your car. Sometimes it can be difficult to sort out all the advice that is floating around out there and even harder to trust some of your local mechanics. How can you be sure they are being honest? What do I really need to do to protect my car in the rough winter weather? There are a few important things to keep in mind this season and your car will be sure to make it through.
First, just because you drive a big all-wheel drive SUV doesn’t mean you don’t need to do some winter weather maintenance. Pull out that dusty owner’s manual from your glove box and give it a quick read. There is valuable information in that booklet that can give you the proper time table for your car’s maintenance. Here are few simple things you can begin with for winter car care. During the cold months, put a bottle of fuel de-icer in your gas tank monthly to keep the lines from freezing. Make sure you also keep up with your oil changes. It is especially important in the winter. Check your manual, but cars usually require this maintenance every 3,000 miles or so.
During the winter, you are going to have to spend a lot more time defrosting your windows. So, it is important to make sure your heater and defroster is in good working condition. In addition to your heating system, be sure to check the levels of antifreeze in your cooling system as well. Checking both of these systems regularly will help keep your car in good balance. Another quick easy way to keep your car running well is to check and clean your battery regularly. If any corrosion has built up around the connections, clean them off and make sure all connections are tight.
One of the most important safety elements to check on your car for the winter is your tires. The roads can get pretty dangerous in the snow, ice and freezing rain so good traction is important. Check tire pressure regularly and make sure your tires don’t have any dangerous wear or nicks in the rubber. Just in case an emergency should arise when you are on the road, keep your car stocked with some winter essentials. Gloves, boots, a blanket, flares, a flashlight and a few energy bars could potentially save your life if you were to be caught in a winter weather emergency.
Taking a little bit of time to perform regular maintenance on your car can improve its life by many years. You can perform many of these maintenance essentials yourself. If you're uncomfortable performing these duties on your own, find a trusted local shop to take your car to. You will be glad you put in the time and your car will thank you with good performance throughout the frigid winter months.
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