Winter is on the way. While the wintery weather looks gorgeous, it could cause your car to be in poor condition. Cold temperatures can lead to frozen engine, blocked tubes or batteries that are empty, and even frozen doors.
A flat tire could cause you to lose your life. With a little preparation you can stay clear of the pitfalls. Learn how to prepare your car prepared for winter.
How your vehicle can be Prepared for the Colder Weather
With winter right ahead and your vehicle must be prepared for the winter weather. When temperatures drop, it can impact the battery, engine and even your car’s batteries, and so on.
As a driver you ensure your safety and that of your passengers. So, you must take care to maintain your vehicle in order to prevent car breakdowns driving in cold weather.
Check the batteries
Batteries are essential to keep your vehicle functioning. In temperatures below freezing your battery will lose its capacity by 60%..
A battery that is not in good condition can cause you to be stuck on the middle of. Make sure you invest in a high-quality tester to test your battery’s conductance, as well as internal resistance, which show the overall condition of your battery before you drive during winter.
Make sure you check the battery terminals
Your battery tester could give promising results; however the damaged cables and terminals may betray you. Acid, dirt, rust and even debris can alter the flow of charges, which can affect performance.
If you’re not sure about taking out the battery you can call an expert. Many have managed to clean their vehicle batteries using a DIY approach. Learn how to do it.
Get ready Car Tools
You are able to make all the required preparations, but still suffer breakdowns of your car in winter. Therefore, you should purchase a car toolkit that includes screws and sockets and hammer, a tow straps, and jumper cables.
Carrying a toolkit along on the road can save your time waiting for a mechanic’s rescue. Because dead batteries are common in winter, taking the time learning how to jump-start the car battery can be a lifesaving technique.
Making sure your car is ready for winter is also a requirement. You should bring shovels deicers and ice scrapers. You might have left your vehicle outside for hours before returning to it, you will find it covered in deep snow and you’ll need the right tools to remove it.
Do Daily Tire Pressure Checks
The cold can affect the pressure of your tire. With every 10 degrees drop in temperature of your tires, it is able to lose between 1 and 2 PSI. Keep your tires at their recommended PSI every day is a great habit to establish.
The PSI values are different based on the model of the vehicle. The PSI requirements in the back of your vehicle’s entrance (driver’s face) and in the user manual.
There could be a shift in temperature during mid-day. Drop at the nearest gas station or auto repair shop to examine the pressure of your tires and fill them with air if needed.
Change the oil in your engine
The oil used in engine vehicles comes in various grades. As the seasons change the engine oil of your car must also be changed. You should not use oil with a high viscosity winter because it will run very slow.
The auto manual can be used to determine the best motor oil. For a simple guideline pick oils that have lower grades that indicates a lower viscosity. The W symbol at the bottom of the motor oil bottle is for winter.
When changing your motor oil, it is crucial to maintain consistency. It is not enough to base your decision on season, but as well on the mileage.
If you are using lubricant, it is recommended to change your oil every 5,000-7,000 miles. If you stick to this simple auto care step, you’ll be halfway through winter’s preparation.
Regular Tune-Up for Cars
Tune-ups typically involve replacement of distributor caps, rotors and other important parts. An ideal benchmark is 10,000 to 100,000 miles for tune-ups, based on the severity of your car’s issues.
As winter approaches and you are preparing your car to an inspection to ensure that all functions are working properly. In winter, roads are slippery and wet and the lighting not sufficient. It is not possible to afford to miss the preventive maintenance.
Maintain Coolant at the optimal ratio
Antifreeze is a chemical additive that lowers the freezing point. A coolant for engines is a mix of antifreeze as well as water.
In sunny weather the ratio between antifreeze and water is 50:50. When the weather turns cold in winter, you have changed the ratio to 60:40 in order to stop the water from freezing and to keep your radiator running.
Transition to Winter Wipers
It can block your vision, causing your wipers to become stuck. Simple water washing may cause little harm to wipers that are covered in snow.
Deicers help defrost snow quickly. You can make a homemade deicer using water mixed and alcohol. It is a good option to switch to winter-specific wipers which will effectively clear snow off your windshield. While driving it is easy to switch on your wipers in order to eliminate snow.
Check for heaters
Being warm and comfortable when you drive for long periods of time is essential to prevent accidents. The weather outside can impact your driving ability and you’re spotting.
Driving at low temperatures with an unreliable heater isn’t optimal. Hands can freeze which makes it difficult to turn the wheel. Check your heater and repair it before winter arrives.
Preventional Measures in Winter by using ZZ Auto Wreckers
Maintaining an old car in the winter months isn’t only expensive but also can be dangerous for your safety. You can prevent deadly accidents by joining forces together with ZZ Auto Wreckers to sell your car that you no longer want and take the cash to purchase a new car.
ZZ Auto Wreckers is in the business of buying used vehicles, junk cars or any vehicle regardless of state of repair. If you don’t want to let your car sit in the garage to decay or in the dust, you can join ZZ Auto Wreckers.
If you are in Duncraig, Western Australia 6023, and looking to sell your car, below is the best way to visit us.
Contact Us
ZZ Auto Wreckers
55 Christable Way
Landsdale WA 6065
0481 202 202
info@zzautowreckers.com.au