Prepare Your Vehicle For The Cold Winter Months

By Author: Kathleen Mccain
Total Articles: 2
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Just as you need to prepare yourself for the cold winter months with warmer clothes, heavy coats, and the right footwear; you need to prepare your vehicle for the climate change, too. It is important to take the steps necessary to protect your vehicle from snow, ice, plummeting temperatures and other challenges winter presents. The cold can cause a lot of damage to your car, but with the right knowledge and proper care, your vehicle will be able to brave the cold winter weather effectively.

Outside temperatures can affect the internal temperature of your engine, causing changes in your oil. It is important that you make sure you’re using the proper oil for the conditions you’re driving your vehicle in. If the temperatures during the winter months are going to drop below freezing where you live, you will need to make the switch to thinner oil. For instance, if you run a 10W-30 during the warm summer months, try using a 5W-30 in the cooler months.

The coolant system on your vehicle is not intended solely to keep the engine from overheating during the hotter months of summer. It also protects your car’s engine ...
... against corrosion. You should be using a coolant with ethylene glycol when the temperatures start dropping, with a ratio of 60% coolant to 40% water. Additionally, if you live in a very frigid climate where the temperatures are going to drop below freezing, you will want to use anti-freeze suitable for the climate. 

The cold weather can also affect the capacity of your vehicle’s battery. Before the cold months set in, it is important to conduct an inspection of your battery, cables, and terminals to winterize your car. Check the cables for breaks or cracks and assure that the terminals fit snugly with no loose connections. You should also check your battery fluid. This can be done by uncovering the refill hole; if the level is below the bottom of the cap simply refill with distilled water. Double check the voltage on your battery to ensure it is fresh enough to endure the cold.

Driving during the winter months can be dangerous and treacherous. Your tires are dealing with snow, sleet, and ice. Mounting snow tires onto your vehicle ensures a safer drive and gives you an advantage when driving through snow. If snow tires are not on your budget, you might want to think about purchasing all-season tires. There are meant to drive year round through all climates, and do not require a tire change with the change of season or an extra set of rims.

Warm water is the quick and easy solution when your door freezes. To be on the safe side you should stock up on glycerin to use for de-icing. This can be found in auto parts and hardware stores. Keeping this in stock ensures you won’t ever be frozen out of your car when you’re not near warm water.

Don’t forget your windshield when you’re winterizing your vehicle. It’s as simple as making the switch to a washer fluid with an antifreeze solution for the colder months.

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