12/23/2017
Winter Tips:
Battery
It's often more difficult for a battery to operate in cold weather than it is for a battery to operate in warm weather. As a result, a battery that's merely weak during the summer could turn into a dead battery during the winter.
Coolant
Coolant, also known as antifreeze, is tremendously important to your car, as it keeps the engine from freezing in cold temperatures.
Gasoline and Washer Fluid
You might be wondering what gasoline and washer fluid could possibly have in common. The answer is that they're two automotive items you should try to keep full during the winter. A full tank may prevent accumulated water from freezing inside your fuel pump and a full windshield-washer reservoir is tremendously important, as messy road debris from a snowstorm can sometimes necessitate constant window washing to see where you're going.
Tires
All-wheel drive is confidence-inspiring when you're accelerating, but it doesn't help you when you're braking and turning. Winter tires are a must in areas where the temperature regularly drops below 45 degrees. These tires are more capable of staying flexible at low temperatures wich means that they can provide improved traction when you're trying to stop and turn on cold pavement, even if there's no snow on the ground.
Tire Pressure
It's incredibly important to keep track of your tire pressure as temperatures get colder. This is because tire pressure can drop along with the air temperature, losing up to one pound per square inch with every 10-degree drop in air temperature.
Defroster and Climate Control
Before winter gets into full swing, be sure to check your car's window defroster and its climate control system to make sure both items are still working properly.
Survival Kit
Although this isn't a car care tip as much as a winter preparedness tip, we suggest considering a survival kit for your vehicle if you want to really maximize your vehicle's readiness for winter. Select one that's stocked with a blanket, a first-aid kit, a knife, a flashlight, jumper cables and a cellphone charger that works in your vehicle's cigarette lighter. We also suggest keeping a shovel in your vehicle's trunk and some sort of de-icer spray handy, so you can easily access the engine or trunk in case they're frozen shut.