Everybody hates going out during the winter months. But, just like the conditions are tough on us, so are they on our vehicles. Let’s look at some car care tips for winter driving.

For many drivers, winter driving spells a lot of challenges like icy roads, salted streets, heavy snow, and freezing temperatures. What’s the best way to make sure that your car can keep rolling through the difficult winter months?

1. Visibility

Winter driving comes with one major hazard, the sun sets a bit earlier in the day, meaning there’s less daylight especially when you commute back home. In this case, it’s wise to do all you can to ensure all your vehicle lights are in great working condition, to provide the brightest possible illumination they possibly can.

Fix any worn-out bulbs before winter starts, and if remove any snow covering exterior lights before you set out to drive. If there are yellow or foggy lights, it’s a good idea to replace them or find an easy restoration kit.

2. Coolant

Antifreeze, also known as coolant is very beneficial to your car since it helps to prevent the engine  from freezing in the cold winter temperatures. Before winter starts, make sure that your vehicle isn’t low on coolant, and check to see if there are any other leaks from the engine that would drain out the coolant. Most mechanics usually recommend a 50/50 mix of coolant and water, which helps to lower the engine freeing point further.

3.Washer fluid and Gasoline

What do washer fluid and gasoline have in common? Well, these are the two most crucial automotive items you should always keep full in winter. Yo
u should always try to have a full tank for a number of reasons, such as preventing accumulated water from freezing inside the fuel pump, and will also help you to stay warm, as it allows the engine to keep running should you get stuck. Similarly, it’s extremely important to have a full windshield washer reservoir since messy road debris from a snowstorm might require constant windscreen washing.

4.Tires and Tire Pressure

Although all-wheel drive is confidence inspiring during acceleration, it won’t help you when braking and turning. In this case, winter tires are necessary for places where the temperature drops to below 45 degrees, as they’re more capable of keeping their flexibility in low temperatures. They can, therefore, provide improved traction as you turn on a cold pavement or when you’re trying to stop.

In addition, it’s very important to keep track of the tire pressure during the cold seasons. Tire pressure usually drops along with the surrounding air temperature, which could mean unpredictable handling, premature tire wear, or tread separation that could eventually lead to a major accident. Don’t forget to let a little air out as temperatures start to rise in the spring.

5.Check your Battery

The sure way for detecting a faulty or weak battery is with professional equipment. Also, it’s usually more difficult for batteries to operate in cold weather than in warm weather. A volt test on your battery before winter is vital to make sure the battery is working properly. If it’s not, get a new one as soon as you can to avoid being the one stranded in the parking lot
with a car that just won’t start.