“Every mile is two in winter,” wrote British poet George Herbert in the early 1600s. This sentiment still stands, especially for motorists dealing with cold temperatures, fewer daylight hours, snow, and ice.
When winter rolls in across the United States and Canada, our attention must turn to the well-being of our vehicles. If you haven’t already done so, now is an excellent time to start thinking about winter car care. Here are some tips to winterize your car and navigate the coming months safely and confidently.
Thoroughly Inspect Your Tires
Taking care of your tires is perhaps the most critical part of winter car care. After all, your tires work overtime in extreme winter weather, hugging surfaces that become slipperier by the second.
When you winterize your car, there are two considerations for your tires. You can stick with your current set or install winter tires designed to handle icy conditions. If you live in an area where snow and ice are typical and must commute in these conditions, investing in a new set of winter tires is probably a good idea to get you through the season.
Winter tires are typically molded with deeper treads and help maintain control and stability of your vehicle in icy conditions. Winter tires are recommended for climates with consistent temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit because they don’t harden and lose pressure as noticeably as all-weather tires when it gets cold outside.
If you stick with your standard all-weather tires, pay special attention to any remaining tread life when winterizing your car. Remember that handling begins to deteriorate once tires go below 4/32 depth, and worn tires won’t grip the road as well in icy conditions. Also, be sure to check tire pressure often in the winter. For every 10 degrees the temperature falls, a typical tire loses an estimated pound of pressure. Because of this, many vehicle manufacturers recommend inflating tires with 3-5 more PSI than your vehicle’s ownership manual advises in the wintertime.
Pay Attention to Your Battery
When you winterize your car, pay special attention to your battery. Car batteries lose 33% of their power when temperatures fall below freezing and 50% when temperatures dip below zero. Under these conditions, turning over a car engine takes up to twice as much current.
Think back. When was the last time you changed your car battery? Car batteries typically last 4-5 years and sometimes last much longer under normal wear and tear. If you have had your current battery for over three years, have it tested, as batteries rarely give any noticeable warning signs before giving out. Otherwise, clean all posts and connections of any corrosion with baking soda, water, and a small wire brush.
Standing helplessly in a parking lot beside a stalled vehicle is always frustrating. It’s even worse in cold, uncomfortable weather. Proper battery maintenance is an integral part of winter car care.
Prepare Your Car Systems for Winter
If your vehicle is due for a tune-up, do it before winter. Cars have to work harder in the winter due to cold weather. During these months, hard starts, sluggish performance, and rough idling can worsen.
Get your brakes checked. These are your vehicle’s most important safety items and are even more critical during winter when traction can be low.
Also, be sure to inspect your vehicle’s belts and hoses. While these hold up for quite some time, cold weather can accelerate their demise.
After cranking the AC all summer, it’s also time to fire up your heater to ensure it and your defroster still work correctly. These components will come in handy.
Winterize Fluids, Change Oil, and Check Wiper Blades
Check your antifreeze levels and ensure you have a 50/50 mix of water and antifreeze. Many types of antifreeze come pre-mixed, but if you are mixing your own, remember that water freezes at 32 degrees. A 50/50 mixture of antifreeze and water won’t freeze until temperatures reach -34 degrees. If you live in a cold climate, consider switching to a winter ratio of 60/40 Antifreeze to water.
During the winter, you will want to switch to a thinner, less viscous oil to deal with cold temperatures. If you typically run a 10W-30, switch to a 5W-30 for the winter ahead.
Your windshield wiper fluid is another vital one to check when winterizing your car. Check and fill your fluid reservoir with a wiper mixed with a deicer to prevent your windows from fogging or freezing when sprayed.
Inspect your wiper blades and change them if they are over a year old. Wiper blades, mainly, take a real beating during winter.
Check Your Lights
Your headlights get a lot more use in the winter. It will be dark when you get off work, and in many states, the law requires you to drive with your headlights on when snow is falling. Headlights are even more critical in areas where deer roam free in the winter.
First and foremost, make sure your lights work. This process includes testing your headlights along with all flashers and signals.
Check to see if your headlights are foggy, as this can contribute to decreased visibility, which doesn’t mix well with winter.
Now may be a good time to clean up your headlights, either on your own or through Dent Wizard’s headlight restoration services.
Prepare an Emergency Kit
You don’t only have to prepare your car for winter but also prepare yourself for the unthinkable: an unexpected breakdown this winter.
It’s a good idea to purchase or build a winter weather emergency kit to store in your trunk through winter. Ideally, the other winter car care tips provided will ensure your vehicle is ready for winter, but just in case, this is a lifeline you can’t go without.
A suitable winter roadside emergency kit contains the following items:
- A Blanket
- A Snow Shovel
- A Flashlight with extra batteries
- Hand Warmers
- Matches
- A Whistle
- Flares & Lightsticks
- Jumper Cables
- Top Off Fluids (Oil and Antifreeze)
Now is also a great time to put your windshield scraper in your vehicle if you are forgetful – you won’t want to be without one when the snow hits!
Put These Winter Car Care Tips to Use
Now that you know how to prepare your car for winter take to the roads knowing your vehicle is ready for whatever old man winter throws.
Do you winterize your car? What is your craziest winter driving story? Share your thoughts and stories with us on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), and look out for more tips and advice from Dent Wizard, the world leader in total automotive SMART (small to medium area repair techniques) services!