Winter is upon us Columbus! Sleet, freezing rain, snow, ice & salt can wreak havoc on your car. If you haven’t already, it’s time to consider winterizing your vehicle.
Wondering what winter car maintenance entails? We’re going to get into the details below.
Fill Up Your Washer Fluid & Check Your Windshield Wipers
Winter weather is messy, to say the least. Not only are you contending with snow and sleet and rain, but with mud and slush and road salt as well. These entities can do a number on your vehicle and your windshield wipers.
As such, it’s vital that you have your washer fluid ready to go at all times. Make sure your vehicle’s reservoir is full of high-quality “winter” fluid with a de-icer during the winter months. Make sure defrosters and all windshield wipers work and replace any worn blades.
Have Your Brakes Inspected
With the current storm of ice and sleet, black ice becomes a real fear. Hitting a patch of ice could send your vehicle careening off the road, putting you in danger of injury and even death.
For this reason, you need to make sure that your brakes are ready for the winter elements. How do you go about doing this? Your best bet is to have your vehicle inspected by a professional auto care company.
Your auto care company will ensure that your brake pads are still good and will check to determine whether your brake fluid levels are appropriate. If necessary, they will also replace components of your braking system.
Get Your Battery Tested
The winter cold can wreak absolute havoc on car batteries, causing them to die unexpectedly. This is simply because car batteries struggle to remain charged in low temperatures.
That said, if your battery has a higher charge throughout the season, it stands a better chance of making it through unscathed. For this reason, you should have your battery tested.
If your battery charge is low, you’ll have the opportunity to charge it up. This can be done with a battery charger or with the help of another vehicle (via jumper cables). If your battery is on the old side, it might even be smart to make a full replacement.
Consider Winter Tires
While you don’t necessarily need to change the tires on your vehicle, you would be able to handle snowy roads better with the use of winter tires. These tires possess extra tread, providing them with greater traction in slippery conditions.
Not only will winter tires help to keep your car going in a straight line, but they’ll also help it to move steadily up and down various hills. They’ll also assist in braking, allowing you to come to a stop much quicker than you would be able to with standard tires.
Winter tires generally last 3 or 4 seasons. So, you wouldn’t just be purchasing them for this year, but for the next few years.
Change the Oil
Another thing you should consider doing is changing the oil in your car. This is particularly true if it’s been a while since your last change—say, over 4 months or so.
Why is it important to change your oil for the winter weather? Because, when cold weather hits, it causes oil to thicken up. If the oil is old and deteriorated, it will already be thickened greater than what is standard.
Ultimately, the old oil will become too thick, potentially causing blockages within your engine. This will hurt the performance of your vehicle and will even subject it to unnecessary wear and tear
So, stop by your local car maintenance shop. They’ll do an oil change for you and ensure that your vehicle can make it through those exceedingly cold temperatures.
Keep a Safety Kit in Your Vehicle
When snow and ice enter the picture, the next accident is always right around the corner. It could happen smack dab in the middle of the city or it could happen in the middle of nowhere. As such, you need to have some necessary supplies in your vehicle; you need to have a safety kit.
This kit should include everything from jumper cables to bottled water to blankets to road flares to snacks and more. You might even want to keep tire chains handy, as well as sand or kitty litter (to help give you traction when you’re stuck in ice).
This kit could go on to get you out of a scary situation, so it shouldn’t be taken lightly. Make it a priority and stock it fully.
Have Your Vehicle Tuned Up
Our last tip for winterizing your vehicle is to have it tuned up. Winter tune-ups are vital in ensuring that all of the vehicle’s components are behaving as they should behave. They help to catch underlying issues in the vehicle, allowing you the chance to repair them before the complications of winter weather take effect.
Who do you go to for a tune-up? One of the best auto repair shops in your area. Go to Google and type in “Toyota car repair near me” or “Mazda mechanic”, for example. This will help you find the best mechanic for your specific vehicle.
Need Help Winterizing Your Vehicle?
Do you need assistance winterizing your vehicle? Looking for auto maintenance in Columbus, Ohio? If so, we here at ATL Total Car Care are the people to see.
We offer a range of auto services from brake repair to engine repair to AC & heating repair and much more. Regardless of your needs, our team will accommodate you.
Contact us now to book an appointment!
