A harsh winter can take a heavy toll on your car. From frozen mechanics to corrosion from road salt, the potential for expensive damage is high. And what’s worse, a poorly protected car becomes much more dangerous to drive, putting the safety of you and your passengers at risk.
Luckily, a little preparation can keep the impact of the colder months to a minimum. Here’s what to do.
1) Winter Tires
Your region may require you to fit snow tires over winter, or it may be a condition of your insurance. But even if you have no legal need for snow tires, it’s important to make sure your tires are fit for the season’s conditions.
Check that the tread depth is a little deeper than the law says and that the tires stay inflated to the correct pressure. In icy conditions, the last thing you want is unreliable handling because of badly performing tires.
2) Check Windshield Wiper Blades
It’s a lot harder for windshield wipers to handle frozen, gritty particles than it is rain or fine summer dust. If the blades are cracked or worn, the dirty ice will quickly build-up, reducing visibility and even damaging the glass. Before winter arrives, check your wiper blades for damage or wear and tear and replace them if necessary.
3) Cover Your Car
If you can keep your car in a garage every night, then that’s ideal. But whatever your usual storage conditions, it’s a sensible idea to buy a car cover to take with you wherever you drive. Covering your car when snow is forecast not only protects the bodywork but makes getting your vehicle ready to drive much quicker and easier.
4) Wash Frequently
You may think washing your car in snowy weather is a waste of time, but it’s important to do it frequently throughout winter. The road salt that sprays up as you drive can cause corrosion surprisingly quickly, so it needs washing off as often as possible. And don’t forget to power spray the harder-to-reach places such as inside the wheel arches and underneath the car itself.
5) Wax Your Car
As well as washing, you can give your car’s bodywork an extra level of protection by waxing it before winter arrives, and at least once before spring.
6) Change the Oil
It makes good sense to time your oil changes for just before winter so that your engine is fully protected during the hardest months. And when you replace the oil, choose a thinner formulation than you’d normally use. In severely cold conditions, regular oil thickens and become less effective at protecting your engine.
7) Check Fluids
Make sure your coolant fluids are topped up and have enough antifreeze added to them. If you’re caught in traffic because of severe weather, you need to be sure the engine won’t overheat. You also need to guard against the radiator bursting if your car is sitting idle in the cold for too long.
8) Test the Battery
Lastly, test how efficient your battery is as winter approaches. Its storage capacity decreases in the cold, and a battery that’s nearing the end of its life can fail unexpectedly if conditions take a sudden turn for the worse.
As winter approaches, a little preparation can go a long way in protecting your car. If some extra care and attention prevent expensive damage while also keeping you safe, it’ll be time and money well spent.
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