Winter is here and the driving will suffer because of it.
Putting your car on the road without making the proper adjustments for winter is incredibly dangerous. Not only are you putting yourself at risk, but everyone else on the road is also at risk without knowing it.
Today, we're going to give you some winter car care tips so that your vehicle is comfortable to drive when the weather's bad. Surprisingly, not many people understand what measures need to be taken to properly winterize a car, so use this as a guide and you'll be safe on the roads.
Winter Tires
The tread on your summer tires won't cut it when the snow and freezing rain start coming down. Before the winter months arrive, switch out those normal tires for winter or all-season ones.
A set of 4 will set you back a bit financially, but they'll last several winters.
Replace Wiper Fluid
Similarly, if you leave your regular windshield wiper fluid in the car when the temperature drops, it'll freeze. When it freezes, it's hard to thaw out, so even if you put winter fluid in, it can't get through the frozen summer fluid.
Make sure to use up all of the summer fluid before putting winter fluid in the tank. Roads get filthy in the winter, so you'll need to wash your windows when snow and sludge dirty the windows.
Gas Levels
In the event of an emergency, you'll want to ensure that there's always at least half a tank of gas. Driving will almost inevitably slow down in blizzard conditions, so you've got to be prepared for long drives between gas stops.
Tire Pressure
Your tire pressure tends to decrease in the cold weather and when it does, your traction on the icy roads worsens. It's reasonable to expect your tire pressure to drop up to a pound for every 10-degree drop in temperature.
When you lose traction, the risk of an accident goes way up, so check your tire pressure at least once per week to make sure they're properly inflated.
Survival Kit
If you do get stranded in inclement weather, you should have access to an emergency survival kit. Include a blanket, a first aid kit, a flashlight, flares, jumper cables, and a cell charger in it for the possibility of being stranded on a quiet road where there aren't many other cars around.
Winter Car Care Will Keep You Alive and Safe
Going through the trouble of winterizing your car every year will keep you out of dangerous situations and keep the potential of bad accidents low. Winter car care is important and as long as everyone does some form of preparation, the roads should be much safer.
Follow these tips and you'll be in good shape, but you can include anything else that makes you feel safe in the winterizing process. The most important thing is ensuring that your car is completely functional in cold weather and on slick roads.
To get your car serviced before winter or if you need a tow after an accident, contact us at B&M Auto Repair and Towing.