Is Your Car Winter Ready?

Be Ready On Time

You might need to do some extra prepping for your car so it is ready for the winter months. Winter season can bring concerns for your vehicle, that happen to be considerably different, especially where the winter is severe. Newer cars may not have so many issues, but you still want to be prepared. It might save you quite a bit of investment if you go along with some basic tips.

For Fuel Economy

Tire pressure is important to monitor always, but in the winter tires get deflated due to the cold. You’ll get better fuel economy when your tire has the perfect pressure, and it will give you a less chance of getting a flat tire. Be sure that your gas tank is actually over a quarter full. For older cars or trucks, this will prevent the gas lines from freezing but it doesn’t apply to newer vehicles. It is best to hold enough gasoline in the tank, in case you become stranded. Coupled with that, you should carry an emergency kit, which has cold weather gear such as gloves and hats. It needs to also include some tools, flashlight, flares and jumper cables.

Check the Cooling System

Considering that some fluids will likely be affected by the cold, be sure that you have all of them examined before winter hits. If you reside in an area that goes below freezing, you will need to make sure your cooling system is in check. Generally the majority of the expensive engine breakdowns come from cooling system failures. Examine the antifreeze level on a regular basis throughout the winter. At the same time keep your windshield washer fluid with a liquid that will not freeze. In case your battery is getting a bit old, you may want to have it looked at before it becomes an issue during the winter. Get rid of any corrosion on your battery terminals, or your car might not start. The life-span of a battery is shortened with extreme cold weather. To get added protection, make sure those jumper cables stay in your vehicle at all times.

Get an oil Change

Your automobile might not be quite ready for an oil change, but do it anyway. In the event your vehicle is older, use a lighter weight oil, since it will keep the parts lubricated during the winter. More recent cars now use lighter oil making it not an issue. You may even want to upgrade your wiper blades for the winter as well. All of these new blades can keep your windshield cleaner with the ice and slush, and clean windows are important. You will want excellent traction in the winter months, so get your snow tires on. Anyway, invest in the right all-season radial tires.

You should definitely get all of this done before the winter weather hits. If you are not thorough, you may find yourself in a ton of trouble in the thick of winter. You should beat the rush, which will happen every year.