Would you go out in the middle of winter wearing shorts and a t-shirt? Chances are that you would cover up to avoid getting sick. The same goes for you vehicle, it makes sense to take care of your car and get it ready for the colder temperatures and conditions.
If you practice regular maintenance with your car you are already half way there. Here are some other things you can do to get your car ready for winter.
Your car comes with an owner’s manual for a reason, use it. Read your owner’s manual and follow the manufacturer’s recommended service schedules.
Take your car to a reputable mechanic and get any engine and drivability problems corrected. Things such as hard starts, rough idling, stalling, diminished power are all things that will only get worse as the weather gets colder.
Something that should be done always and as part of regular maintenance is to replace dirty filters. Replacing air, fuel, and PVC help an engine run more efficiently and can save you on gas.
One thing that is often neglected is getting your motor oil changed. Changing your oil is essential to protecting your engine.
Maintaining your cars cooling system not only protect your engine from overheating, it also keeps it from freezing in colder temperatures. If you want to do it yourself, a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water is usually recommended. Just remember that if you’re going to try this yourself, never remove the radiator cap until the engine has completely cooled off.
Make sure your defroster is in good order and get that battery checked. Nothing like fogged windows or a dead battery to deal with on a cold winter morning. Along the same lines, get your windshield wipers replaced.
There are many more things you can do to keep your car safe and reliable during the colder months. The biggest thing you can do is to use common sense.
