Winter can cause a lot of problems for cars. The following tips will help you maintain your vehicle during the winter season. With just a little bit of effort, you can keep your car in great condition no matter what the winter season throws your way.
Tip #1: Park in a Garage if Possible
Parking in a garage protects your car from ice and snow. That means you don’t have to worry about an icy tree limb falling on your car in the middle of the night.
If you don’t have access to a garage, at least try to protect the car by parking under a sturdy structure. If that’s not possible, cover the car with a fitted tarp. Even small amounts of protection will help.
Tip #2: Wash Your Car During Winter
People always seem to wash their cars on warm, sunny days. They don’t want to spend the time and money washing cars in the cold, especially when another winter storm could make the vehicles look dirty again within a couple days.
That’s a huge mistake that will take a toll on your car. Cities often use salt and other chemicals to improve driving conditions during winter. When those substances splash on your car, they slowly begin to corrode the metal.
Washing your car once a week will minimize any damage caused by salt, dirty, and chemicals that you pick up while driving on snowy roads.
Tip #3: Check Your Car’s Antifreeze
If you live in a place with cold winters, then you need to check your car’s antifreeze before temperatures fall below freezing. Without antifreeze, you might find that your car won’t start in the morning. Even worse, your car’s engine could experience damage from frozen components. Don’t take any chances. A jug of antifreeze doesn’t cost much money, but it can save you hundreds of dollars in repairs.
Tip #4: Make Sure You Have the Right Tires
Manufacturers design tires to match specific driving conditions. By using a winter tire, you improve your safety as you drive in snow, ice, and water. If your car has summer tires on it, then you won’t get the friction needed to stop on slick conditions. That means you increase your chances of having accidents.
Tip #5: Check Your Lights
You can also lower your risk of having an accident by checking your car’s lights regularly. Front light, read lights, brake lights, and turning signals all play important safety roles. Without them, you’re setting yourself up for an accident with another driver.