As the temperatures come down and you see winter on the horizon, you can start thinking about preparing your car for the cold season. There are a lot of things that will affect your car during winter. Cold temperatures which might go below freezing are not the best for your cars, and they could fail at any time. But you can prevent this by taking adequate measures so that you don't end up stuck on the way.
Have A Winter Supply Ready
The first thing to do when winter is approaching is to get a winter supply box ready. This should be in the car all the time and replenished when you use up the supplies. This is necessary for your safety should you get stuck somewhere. This box must be in the trunk of your car from the first day of winter.The box should contain a torchlight, a couple of flares, candles, and a matchbox. These should be in sealed plastic covers. You can keep the torchlight and batteries in the glove compartment. The other things you need include blankets, an extra pair of gloves and warm clothing. These can be packed in plastic covers and kept in the trunk. Please also stock some high-energy snacks.
You should have a battery-operated radio and a mobile phone fully charged for calling the police or emergency services. You should place two bags of sand on each side of the trunk. This will provide extra traction for the rear tires. It will also help you if your tires get stuck in the snow. You should carry a scraper and shovel too.
Coolant And Antifreeze Levels
You must make sure that the antifreeze levels are sufficient. You can check these by looking at the car user manual. If the levels are low, you must top up the antifreeze. This will keep the engines from freezing during the cold of the winter. It is better to have a mix of half water and half antifreeze during the winters. Don't let the antifreeze get diluted too much. This can lead to it freezing, and your engine can develop enough trouble to burn a big hole in your pocket.Check Your Tires
Your tires are your best insurance when driving in snow or on ice. The first thing to check is whether they have the recommended pressure in them. This can be done by any pressure gauge which you can buy from tire shops. You must maintain the right pressure to get the right grip on the road.Check the treads of the tire and see how deep they are. During winter it is better if you have 3 mm depth because that will give a better grip in snow. Change bald tires immediately. If you are in a place where the winters are very severe in winter, you can go for winter tires. These tires are made of materials that are more pliable. These won't become brittle even in very cold temperatures. A pliable tire offers a better grip on ice or snow.
Sometimes you can face a condition called square tires. When it is too cold, and the car has been sitting idle for the whole night, the warm air in the tire can go up. This will make the bottom flat. This condition will resolve itself when you start driving. But you must drive slowly in the beginning till the tire is in proper shape again.
Keep Your Batteries Charged Well
You must check your batteries as winter approaches. Car batteries are under strain during winter due to excess use of lights, heater, and blower. If your battery is old, then you should get it replaced. You cannot risk being stuck because your batteries won't power the start. Please also take care to carry jumper cables to jump-start your car if needed. Either you can use such headlights for your car which will not damage your battery charge quickly. You can check some jeep wrangler led headlights here.Use Winter -Grade Engine Oil
It is better to use engine oil of higher viscosity during the winter. The thinner the oil, the more freely it will circulate to keep your engine cool. You can check this by looking at the weight number in the oil grade. If you are using a 20W oil during normal months, you can go for a 10W oil during winter. You can make this change for your transmission oil too.Change Windshield Wiper Fluid
You may be using normal windshield wiper fluid during the other months. But for winter you need the one which has antifreeze in it. Otherwise, you could have fluid freezing in the extreme cold. You must check the wiper blades and see if they are fine. They must not be worn out or hardened. If they are so, it is better to change them. Clean the windscreens from inside and outside before winter sets in.Other Things That Can Help You Tide Over The Winter
There are small things which can be of help during winter. If you have a garage, you must park the car inside the garage. If you don't have one, you can purchase a cover for the car. This will protect you from ice on your windshields. It will also help to ice and snow from your paint. You must also check the brakes before the winter and ensure that the anti-lock system is working properly. If your car has not been serviced for some time, get it done before winter sets in.It you have to embark on a long journey make sure to look at the weather forecasts for your route and also see if there are any major blocks on the way before you start. Be prepared for the journey to take longer than usual during winter.
