Get Your Car Ready for the Wintery Weather

We winterize our homes, and we winterize our yards, but many of us forget to winterize our cars. Winterizing our cars can be one of the most important things we do in preparing for bad weather. Without doing it, we chance being stranded on the road in the cold for reasons that we may have easily been able to prevent.

When winterizing your car, there are certain things that we should do. First if which is to check the tires on our cars. Check them for wear, and replace them if it is needed. Buying snow tires is a good idea, especially if you live in an area that normally gets a lot of snow. Be sure to check the air pressure in your tires too. Having the proper air pressure helps the tires to have the best traction, thus keeping you safer on icy and snow-covered roads.

Check your car's battery. Look for any signs of corrosion and any worn or bare wires. If your battery is older than just a couple of years, you may want to replace it. If you are sure that your battery is still working properly, be sure that any corrosion is cleaned off of the clamps and posts. Using baking soda, water, and an old tooth brush, gently scrub off any corrosion. This helps to ensure a good connection between the battery and its terminals, making it easier to start your car.

Check and change your oil. Be sure there is plenty of oil in your car and that it is the right thickness for the time of year. Oil thickens in the cold weather, so in order for your oil to protect your engine and its components, you want to use a thinner oil in cold weather. If you are unsure what type of oil to use, you can either look in your cars manual or ask a service technician or auto parts store clerk to look it up for you.

Check your antifreeze levels and be sure to have the proper mixture of antifreeze and water in your radiator. Too much water can cause it to freeze. If the antifreeze in your car looks brown or dirty, you may need to flush your radiator and refill it. To do this, simply release the drain plug on the radiator and drain all of the antifreeze. Once it is completely empty, flush the system with a radiator flush cleaner. Follow the directions on your bottle before doing anything because the process is different for some cleaners. Once you have flushed the system, refill with the proper mixture of antifreeze and water. You may need to regularly check your antifreeze level until you find that you no longer need to add any. Sometimes, it takes a while for the antifreeze to re-enter the system completely after a flush. If you feel uncomfortable doing this yourself, you can always take it to an auto shop and have a technician flush the system for you.

Check your defrosting and heating units. Make sure they both work properly. If you find that when you turn them on, one, the other, or both of them are not working right, you should take your car in to an automotive shop and have them repaired. Both units are important to keep in working order in the cold weather.

To keep your gas lines from freezing and to help keep moisture out of your gas tank, you should try to keep your gas tank full in the winter months. Anything below a half tank of gas can freeze in very cold weather. To help keep water out of your gas, you can also use additives in your gas that dry up the excess moisture. Keeping your tank full is the best way to ensure that your gas tank does not freeze and that you do not become stranded because of an empty tank.

Replacing your windshield wipers is important too. Worn wipers will not clean your windshield as well as new ones will. You want to ensure the best visibility possible when driving in the winter, and new wiper blades help you in that. Using a windshield wiper fluid with a de-icing agent in it will help prevent ice from forming on your windshield while driving in the winter. Remember, when cleaning the ice and snow off of your car, be sure to clean it off of your windshield too. Do not try to just clear it with your wipers. This can cause problems with your wipers' ability to effectively clean your windshield.

If you have a four wheel drive vehicle, it is a good idea to make sure that your four wheel drive works before winter hits. If it works as it should, it can really help your traction on the snow and ice covered roads. It can also help reduce the risk of getting your vehicle stuck in the snow.

You should also check your belts and hoses for wear. If they look worn, you should have them replaced. Cold weather can weaken your hoses and belts making them more likely to break. Having new ones rather than worn ones helps reduce the risk of breakage, and therefore; helping to reduce the risk of becoming stranded on the side of the road in the cold.

Last, but certainly not least, you should prepare an emergency kit for your car and put it in your car. Things to include are tools that may be needed to change a tire, or tighten a belt, any tool that you may need incase of an emergency. A spare tire that is good and in working order is important. If you end up with a flat tire, you want to be able to change it on the spot rather than have to wait out in the cold for assistance. Keep engine oil, antifreeze with your kit, just in case. Chances are unlikely that you will need them, but it doesn't hurt to have it on hand, just in case. Window de-icer, or washer fluid with deicer can come in handy too. An ice scraper is a necessity in the winter weather. You should also have a couple of warm blankets and a roadside flare in your kit. This way, if you do become stranded, you can stay warmer with the blankets and attract attention, therefore; help, with the flare. A flashlight and extra batteries are also necessities. If you happen to get stuck out in the cold at night, a flashlight will help you see what you need to see.

Preparing your car for winter weather, and preparing an emergency kit for your vehicle can help ensure your safety as well as the safety of your passengers during travel in the cold winter months. By checking tires, hoses, belts, wiper blades, your heater, and defogger, any four wheel drive, equipment, and the oil and antifreeze, and keeping your tank full of gas, you have a better chance of not being stranded in the winter weather. If you do become stranded, you will be better prepared to deal with it with the help of your emergency kit.