If you haven’t gotten your car ready for winter, now’s the time to do it. The winter season, with its snow, ice, slush, and bone-chilling cold weather, can be challenging for motorists. But one way to navigate the roads and highways more confidently is to ensure your car is ready for everything Mother Nature has to offer.
Here are five ways to ensure your vehicle is ready for the challenging winter driving season.
1. Get Winter Tires
If you still have all-season tires on your vehicle, swap them for winter tires as soon as possible. Notice that the term isn’t “snow tires.” It’s “winter tires.” Some assume they don’t have to change tires until the first major snowstorm hits. But the reality is that all-season tires lose much of their elasticity once the temperatures consistently dip below 45°F.
Driving on all-season tires when it’s too cold outside will put you at a decided disadvantage–and that’s even more so when driving on snow, slush, and ice. All-season tires are really just three-season tires. While they’re good for the spring, summer, and fall, they won’t perform well during the winter. Use winter tires for the winter season.
When equipped with winter tires, your car will be easier to drive when navigating challenging road conditions. You won’t find every trip to be a terrifying series of slips and slides all over the roadway.
2. Check the Coolant
Ensure you check the coolant. If the level is low, top it up and monitor it. You’ll want to investigate further if, for instance, the coolant level is lower a few days after topping it up. Check the hoses or beneath the vehicle for signs of leakage. Should there be any issues, take your car to a trusted mechanic for service so that you’re good to go come winter.
When checking the coolant, don’t forget the radiator. It’s one of those components that’s easy to ignore when everything’s functioning well. If your radiator is worse for wear and should be replaced, consider upgrading to something offering better efficiency and performance.
The right fluid coolers for radiators can take your car’s cooling system to the next level. Microchannel liquid cooling effectively dissipates the heat created by engines to facilitate achieving optimal operating temperatures. That’ll help reduce the chances of the engine overheating.
3. Check the Other Fluid Levels
While checking the coolant, take the time to look at the other fluid containers under the hood. Prepare to top up anything lower than it should be. After topping anything up, check on it later to ensure there are no leaks or anything else to be concerned about.
4. Get an Oil Change
It’s also a good idea to get an oil change before the winter. While you’re at it, change the engine oil filter as well. Using winter-grade oil formulations is a good idea to combat the impact of the cold weather on your vehicle’s engine.
5. Rustproof Your Car
Rustproofing your vehicle annually is a good idea. Rust can destroy an otherwise great vehicle.
So, it makes sense to get yours serviced once per year. It’s a form of cheap insurance to keep your car on the road longer. You can prevent rust from forming or slow down its progression by investing in rustproofing. That’s especially true if your city uses corrosive materials on the roads to combat the snow, slush, and ice during the winter.
When you take care of your car, it’ll take care of you. So, do your part to get your vehicle ready for the winter. It’ll make driving less daunting.
