5 Essential Tips for Getting Your Car Ready for Coming Winter

Winter is that time of the year when vehicle owners scramble to protect their cars from harsh weather condition. There are ample instances of vehicles bearing the brunt of the cold weather and snow storms which not only lead to inflated repair & maintenance bills but certain parts of your car have to be replaced completely.

There are certain things you can carry out to maintain your car during the winter months and here in this article, we will discuss the 5 most essential tips to get your car winter ready.

Replace Essential Fluids

There are multiple fluids used in your car that help in the efficient functioning of the vital components in your vehicle. Most of the time it is observed that during the winter months, the fluids in your vehicle like engine oil, coolant, and windshield washer fluid get degraded completely.

You must first make sure that the engine oil you are putting in your vehicle is suitable for the coming winter months. In fact, you must always opt for winter-grade engine oil with the right viscosity levels. Moreover, the coolant of your car should have the right proportion of antifreeze and water to make it winter-proof.

In addition to that, the windshield water fluid of your vehicle should be mixed with a winter formula that won’t let the fluid freeze up when the temperature plummets. If you are apt in maintaining proper fluid levels with these recommendations then you can avoid breakdowns & make sure your vehicle runs smoothly even in harsh winter conditions.

Check the Battery

The battery of your car is perhaps one of the most vulnerable components to the cold winter conditions. The batteries lose a significant amount of their power during the winter months and this is a prime reason behind the failure of car batteries during the winter months.

Now, before the onset of the winter months, you must test the battery of your car to ensure that they are able to hold charge properly without faltering. However, if you are driving with a battery under the hood that is more than 3 years old or there are already symptoms evident of a battery failure then you must consider replacing it.

After having a thorough look at the battery of your car then you must inspect the terminals of your battery for any signs of corrosion and loose connections. If you are able to keep the battery in prime condition then you can easily avoid getting stuck in the middle of the road due to a dead battery.

Use Winter Tires

Before the onset of winter, you must pay special attention to the tires of your car. The tires are the only part of your vehicle that comes in direct contact with the road surface. You can start by checking the tread depths of your tire and if it is below 4/32 of an inch then it is not suitable for you to drive with these kinds of tires.

In addition to that maintaining proper tire pressure is equally important because the cold conditions during the winter months can cause the pressure to drop. However, if you are living in an area with harsh winter conditions then it is best to opt for winter tires.

The winter tires have very good tread depth and the soft rubber compounds from which they are manufactured provide excellent traction in these rough weather conditions.

Have an Emergency Kit in Place

Whenever you are preparing your vehicle for the upcoming winter months it is also essential to pack an emergency kit in your vehicle. The emergency kit must be equipped with a blanket, flashlight, extra batteries, first-aid items, snacks, and bottled water.

Besides that, some car owners also opt for jumper cables, tire chains, and a tow rope to help them out of difficult situations.

Examine & Replace Wiper Blades

Maintaining proper visibility during the winter months is crucial for safe driving and if the wiper blades aren’t working properly then it can lead to serious problems like collisions and accidents. If the wiper blades are already showing signs of wear and tear then you must get them replaced with new ones.

There are winter-specific wiper blades also available that can handle rough weather conditions. Moreover, you need to make sure that your windshield washer nozzles are clear of any debris and functioning efficiently.

Finally

There is no doubt that taking proper care of your vehicle during the winter months requires a lot of effort, however, you cannot shun away your responsibilities and let your vehicle be doomed. Just following these above-discussed steps would keep your car safe and running in the winter months.

We at European Motor Cars are rated no. 1 European service center in Las Vegas for over 30 years. The European Motor Cars is a one-stop solution for all your European motor car repair and maintenance needs.