Properly Prepare Your Car for Winter

Ah the wonderful fun of summer, open windows and loud stereos, beautiful weather and warm sunlight. However, all the joy that comes with summer must eventually give way to the cold dreariness of winter. Of course winter, in addition to putting a lot of stress on people, can also put a lot of stress and pressure on your vehicle. In fact, more vehicles and car components fail more often during winter than in any other time of the year. While a lot of factors can be attributed to this, including rougher running conditions, less time and incentive for upkeep, and the simple fact that cold weather causes a lot of wear and tear on engine and transmission components, it only stands to reason that you cannot change winter or the effects that it will have. However, you can change how winter affects your vehicle, and taking a little time to prepare both yourself and your car for the coming months can yield almost unlimited rewards and can save you a lot of money on costly repairs.

A lot of things can be done in order to prepare a car for winter, and some are more effective than others. However, some of the most effective things that can be done are also some of the simplest. Mainly, towards the end of fall, you will want to start stocking up on windshield washer fluid. During storms and bad weather in winter, washer fluid becomes an important necessity. As a direct result of this, the fluid can sometimes be difficult to find during the winter months, and it is absolutely necessary if you plan to drive through snow and slushy conditions. Remember to keep a couple extra bottle at home, and an extra one in your car is also helpful for extended driving during bad conditions. However, when you do go to purchase washer fluid, make sure to check the label and purchase only fluid that is designed for cold weather.

Keeping right along with visibility, an excellent preparation for winter is to purchase new windshield wipers. Wipers tend to deteriorate very fast during snow and icy conditions, and most normal wipers are simply not up to the task of getting through layers of snow and ice. In order to compensate for this, many companies produce lines of wipers that are designed especially for winter, these will be your best bet for keeping your windshield clean and your visibility good throughout the winter months.

Another important component of your car to consider during winter is your battery. Batteries tend to have a much harder time in winter, and the cold weather can kill a battery that seemed to work fine during summer. If your having doubts about your battery, replace it before winter or at least try and keep an eye on it, you do not want to be stranded in the middle of a snowstorm because your car battery died.

Before winter, another very helpful thing to do is to replace all of the fluids in your car. An oil change and anti-freeze change is especially helpful. If you drive a clutch car, also check the hydraulic clutch fluid (usually DOT3), as clutches tend to have a hard time functioning properly in very cold weather. Remember that low-weight oil is a lot better to use during winter than normal oil.

Tires are another important factor that can seriously affect your ability to drive safely through snow and other questionable conditions. Although there are restrictions as to when you can winter tires put on your car, the best bet is to do it as soon as possible in order to plan ahead for any unexpected storms that may occur. You should also keep chains in your trunk if you should have to put them on in an emergency.

Even after your car has been mechanically prepared for winter, there are a few other things that should be done solely for the safety of the driver. Keep extra food and clothes, as well as some sleeping supplies in your car in case you should become stranded. If you should face white-out conditions or impassible roads, this will give you the option to safely spend the night in your vehicle instead of forcing you to drive through impossible conditions. Also, a few other necessities include a flashlight, extra fluids for your car, some bottled water, a shovel, windshield scraper and any other product that you feel may make winter driving safer.

Remember that you should always try to keep your gas tank as full as possible during winter, the added weight will do wonders for your ability to handle your car on icy conditions, likewise for putting extra weight in the trunk or hatch of your car (especially if it is a rear wheel drive vehicle). You should have a cell phone or some type of similar device with you at all times in case you need to call for help.

While winter does indeed present many challenges and trials for drivers, a prepared driver will have a relatively easy time getting through the dangers of snow and ice. Just make sure that both you and your vehicle are prepared in case of sudden storms, and remember to drive very carefully in adverse conditions, and use common sense and intelligence when navigating tricky roads.