If they haven’t already, the coldest months of the year are coming your way soon. It’s time to start getting ready for the nearly daily occurrence of rain, snow, and ice. The most crucial thing you can do to get ready for this season is to winterize your car, which is in addition to ensuring sure your home is protected from chilly winds and frozen pipes.
Even though maintaining your car is necessary all year long, getting it ready for the winter is equally important. You might imagine that having your automobile break down on a warm spring or summer day wouldn’t be all that unpleasant. But believe me when I tell that waiting for a tow truck in subzero weather is hardly anyone’s idea of fun. Use these 5 simple measures to winterize your automobile to ensure that it can safely transport you to all of your trips this winter and prevent breakdowns.
1.) Make Sure You’re Getting Heat
Let’s begin by stating the obvious. Driving a car with a broken AC in the winter is not a good idea. Make sure to have any issues with your car’s ventilation, heaters, or air conditioning fixed before the temps begin to fall. If not, you should pay the money to get it fixed by a mechanic. You might be able to fix it yourself with auto air refrigerant. I promise it will be worthwhile.
2.) Check Your Tires
Even the best snow tires may not be sufficient for driving in poor conditions. To prevent traffic collisions, make sure yours are in excellent shape. Replace any worn tires and don’t forget to add chains when you need more traction.
also check the pressure in your tires. The pressure in your tires reduces as the weather gets colder, so just in case, put some extra air to your tires. Maintaining proper tire inflation is essential to your safety on the road since low tire pressure is particularly hazardous on wet, slick surfaces.
3.) Winterize Your Battery
In the winter, your battery suffers since it has to work harder to keep the engine warm. Have your battery’s life checked by your mechanic, and have it replaced if necessary. The next time you see someone in a parking lot trying to jump start their car while standing in a snowdrift, you’ll be glad you checked this out!
You should check three distinct items if you wish to examine the battery yourself.
The cables
Check to make sure there are no cracks or breaks in the cables, and make sure they are not loose.
The charge
You’ll need a hydrometer to measure the charge on your battery. Just remember to turn off the engine before you do so.
The manufacture date
Check the manufacture date as it will help you determine when your battery will start to loose its charge. On average a car battery will last 5 to 7 years.
4.) Check The Fluids
Make sure to take care of this before it gets too cold outside because it is an essential component of the yearly car maintenance you should do to winterize your vehicle. This include inspecting your car’s antifreeze, windshield wiper fluid, and oil. In colder climates, all of these can thicken and become more harmful than beneficial.
Oil
If you’re due for an oil change make sure to have that completed before it gets too cold, and if you’ll be driving in temperatures below freezing consider using a thinner oil so it doesn’t freeze.
Antifreeze
Make sure your car has the right mixture of antifreeze and water, so it doesn’t freeze, and be sure it is filled to the maximum line.
Windshield Wiper Fluid
You’ll need freeze-resistant wiper fluid to keep your windshield from fogging or icing over. Also consider switching out your wiper blades for winter wipers, which have rubber that keeps the ice from collecting on them.
5.) Pack An Emergency Kit
While we do our best to prepare for and avoid car problems during the winter, sometimes it’s inevitable. So when you do run into problems having an emergency kit in the trunk of your car can help. You’ll want to have an assortment of the following:
- First aid kit
- Ice scraper
- Flashlight and batteries
- Non-perishable food and water
- Jumper cables
- Phone charger
- Bag of sand or kitty litter (it can help get your tires out of snow or mud)
- Extra antifreeze
- Blanket or extra, warm clothing items such as coats
If your car were to break down on the side of the road in the winter, make sure your emergency kit is tailored to your needs by include anything you or your children would want.
Now that you and your automobile are ready for the winter, you may enjoy it. Please share with us any additional methods you use to prepare your automobile for the winter.
If you are in Melaleuca, Western Australia 6079, 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