Easy Tips to Winterize Your Car

December 19th, 2011

Now that winter weather is upon us, it’s time to winterize your car. Extreme changes in temperature are very hard on your car, and you definitely don’t want to get stranded in the cold. These are easy tips to ensure that you will have a safe winter driving season.

Fluids

• Check your antifreeze, the fluid in your radiator should be close to a 50-50 mixture of coolant and water. Since water will freeze at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, adding coolant lowers the temperature at which the contents of your radiator will freeze to as low as -34 degrees F, keeping it circulating in very cold weather. Test the mixture and add coolant as necessary.
• Oil gets thicker in cold weather, and if it’s too thick it won’t do a good job of keeping your engine lubricated. Check your owner’s manual to choose the right viscosity for your car. Switch from a thicker viscosity oil in the summer months to a thinner grade oil in the winter for easier starting. Synthetic oil is less susceptible to extreme temperature changes.
• Check your other fluids, making sure they’re full. Use windshield washer fluid with deicer in it, because plain water will freeze.

Tires

• Add air to your tires, cold temperatures compress the air and your tires will become under-inflated. Your tires typically lose 1 pound per square inch whenever the temperature drops 10 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Make sure your tread depth is good enough for traction on ice and snow. Use all-season tires or switch to chains or snow tires, depending on the area where you live or plan to drive. Traction is very important in ice and snow, and especially in hilly areas.
• If your vehicle has a 4-wheel-drive system, make sure it’s working properly and that every driver in your family knows how to engage it.
• Make sure you have tire-changing equipment in good working order and check the air in your spare tire, too.

Visibility

• Wiper blades only last about a year, so consider changing them before the winter season, replacing them with some that are specially designed for maximum visibility in the winter. These blades are designed with a protective rubber housing insulating the blade from snow and ice build-up. Pop your blades up when the car is parked during freezing rain or snow, to prevent them from freezing to your windshield.
• Make sure your heater and defroster are working properly so you can keep the windshield clear. Keep a can of deicer and a plastic scraper handy.
• Make sure that you can be seen by checking that all your lights work. This is important in low visibility conditions.

Power

• Very cold temperatures can reduce a vehicle’s battery power by up to 50 percent. Load-test your battery, starter, and alternator to be sure they are all working properly. Most auto parts stores will do it for free. Make sure your battery’s posts and connections are corrosion-free. If they’re corroded, you can clean them with baking soda, water and a small wire brush.
• Check belts and hoses and carry spares, because cracked, worn or frayed rubber won’t stand up to the nasty cold. This type of preventive maintenance can keep you from getting stuck.

Safety

You can buy an emergency kit, like this one from Sears w/ free year of road assistance, but it’s easy and cheaper to assemble it yourself from items you have around the house. Carry these items with you in the trunk of the car for the winter season.

• Flashlight with fresh batteries, flares
• Safety kit, tool kit, first aid kit
• Jumper cables, tire gauge, and tire chains
• Snow brush, ice scraper, small shovel
• Blankets, with an extra set of warm clothing, boots, hat and gloves for each passenger
• Emergency food supply and bottled water, and hard candies to keep your mouth from getting dry
• A fully-charged cell phone and power adapter
• Windshield washer fluid, and extra windshield wipers
• Paper towels
• A bag of abrasive material such as sand, salt or non-clumping kitty litter, which can provide additional traction if a tire gets stuck in snow

In general, you’ll want to apply a good coat of wax to help protect your paint from road salt, snow and ice. Swap out your carpeted floor mats for a set of water-resistant vinyl or rubber mats. Keep your gas tank filled to prevent the gas lines from freezing, and maintain enough fuel to stay warm if you get stranded. Running the engine for 10 minutes every hour can help keep you warm if you have to wait in the car for assistance.

Planning a driving trip this holiday? Print and follow this Winter Driving Checklist.

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