Quick Winter Car Care Tips
October 15th, 2009
Summer is over, unfortunately, and with the departure of warm nights and bright sunny days comes dark evenings and the freezing cold. Even though we are in October, it is rarely much better than the weather found over the December and January periods. It is important that your vehicle is up to scratch in the winter months as breaking down could have much more serious consequences than you think; in this article we will be looking at some useful and helpful tips to make sure your car is in tip top condition for whatever mother nature throws at us.
Your antifreeze and engine coolant are vitally important during the winter. Antifreeze will help to protect and shield your engine against those bitterly cold winter mornings and will prevent any freezing up of your engine; it is important that this is checked and topped up regularly. Be sure to top it up with antifreeze and not distilled water as some mechanics may recommend during the summer months.
Make sure that your battery is up to standard. A weak battery is the most common reason a vehicle does not start or has trouble starting on a cold winter morning so check it first to make sure all connections are secure and that there is no obvious corrosion or damage. If you are in an area that is regularly experiences temperatures below -25C you should consider installing a battery warmer to keep your battery from freezing over.
Check both your tire pressure and oil level. An under inflated tire will not have a firm grip with the road surface and could potentially be lethal in icy conditions, so make sure you check frequently for any damage. The oil helps to keep the engine lubricated and removes any dirt that can interfere with the running of your vehicle. Ensure you are running the proper oil weight by consulting your owners manual as running oil that is too thick for your vehicle will result in trouble starting in colder temperatures and may result in damage to your engine.
While these tips make seem commonsensical, it is surprising how many road users do not regularly maintain and check their vehicles, especially in winter; in some cases it can make all the difference.
Tags:car maintenance, winter driving
About the Author
Deborah Rhodes is a big fan of all things automotive. She loves racing her mustang at her local dragstrip on the weekends. Deborah works at a marketing firm as a graphic designer.
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Proper maintenance will save you a lot of grief. I still remember the winter when I had to change not one but two flat tires in -26C weather. Not fun.
Even here in South Africa we have to do what we can to protect our cars in the winter but lucky for us its not against something as snow but the weather does get pretty cold, and we too use things like Antifreeze which really helps out the cars engine. that was something really interesting to read about the battery, lucky enough we don’t get to temperatures below -25C, so we don’t have to worry too much about using the battery warner, Tire and oil pressure is also important, tires should be also pumped to their right pressure and oil to its correct level.
Winter might freeze your budget if you don’t prepare….. Checking all fluids and tire pressure regularly will make the winter driving season more enjoyable. Don’t be left out in the cold