The leading edge of winter is fast approaching as the temperature drops and the trees change color – this means it's time to weather proof your car!
- Have your battery checked
The first step is to have the battery checked. While you can visually check it for obvious signs of corrosion, there are other issues that may exist that are not as obvious. Having a professional check all aspects of your battery will ensure that it will still start on those cold mornings!
- Put a Shovel in the back!
Having a shovel handy is great is you happen to get stuck in a snow bank (or if you need to help someone else out of a snowbank!)
- Switch to Winter Wiper Blades and Fluid
In order to keep your windshield free in winter, it is better to switch out to larger and more efficient wiper blades. It is also important to make sure that your wiper fluid is the cold-weather type so that it does not freeze.
- Check the Air Pressure in Your Tires
For every 10 degrees the temperature drops, your tires lose 1 pound of pressure. Soft tires mean you will have a harder time on ice and snow maintaining control of your car. So, check the pressure, air them up to the suggested levels and check them frequently throughout the winter.
- Check the Tire Tread Depth
Once your tires have enough air in them, check the depth of the tread. If they are ‘bald' and do not have at least 6/36 of an inch tread, it can severely affect how your car handles in snow and ice. If it's time for new tires, make sure you replace all four. If you only change the tires in the font this can make your car slide more and putting them just on the back can make turning more difficult.
- Switch to thinner Oil
When it gets cold, oil gets thicker and it can overwork your car trying to circulate thick oil. Check your owner's manual for recommendations and make sure that your oil filter is changed at the same time as your oil.