7 Car Tips to Brave the Winter Weather

Brace yourself, winter is coming. It’s no secret that when winter hits, car problems always tend to arise at the worst times. From sliding on icy roads to dusting a mountain of snow off your vehicle, winter is one of those seasons that tests your patience. Here are a couple suggestions we have for you that may help you beat that winter blues and cruise the roads with ease.

1. Prepare your wipers

With all of the unpredictable weather heading our way, your wipers are a precious tool. Visibility is a must to navigate the road conditions. Even though it is recommended that you change your blades annually, the reality of life is that it can be costly to do so. If you want to make your wipers last, wipe them down with a vinegar soaked rag. This will also fix streakiness and smearing. 

A little trick we’ve seen people do is popping your wipers when parked. This prevents the wipers from getting mucked up by the snow and ice. With some believing it helps, others think it wears out the springs. Regardless, the wipers need to be prepared to do their job in the winter months.

2. Check Your Battery

You parked your car, went into the grocery store, shopped for an hour and came back to your vehicle, only to be met with a dead battery. A tale as old as time that can be prevented by checking the battery. Shops don’t usually charge for a load-test and stores like AutoZone® will check it for free as well. Lucky for you, if you stop there and your battery is kaput, you can easily replace it, all in one visit. If you want to search for some options, Costco® and Sam’s Club® sell some affordable options. It is also great to check out your local automotive businesses to see what options they can provide. 

3. Check the Antifreeze

A first thought to many, but a helpful reminder for the rest of us! A lot of service stations have signs up this time of year as well. Chances are your coolant is alright if you have a vehicle under 150,000 miles, but if you’re still concerned, check out the “flush and fill” options at your local service station. There are also tester kits available at auto-part stores if you what a handy tool.

4. Check & Change Your Washer Fluid

No more mister cheap fluid, it’s time to bring out the de-icing solution! Putting regular washer fluid in your reservoir is a bad idea during the cold months. With the possibility of it freezing and expanding in your washer system, this could lead to a rather poor situation. All formulas are different , but we recommend either a de-icer fluid or an all-season solution. Paying attention to this will help you avoid some frozen wiper incidents! 

5. Air in Your Tires

Cold temperatures affect tire pressure, we know this, but lack of air in your tires can do some pretty heavy damage.  Instead of just brushing it off and saying it will go back to normal when it’s warmer outside, we recommend you take the gauge and meet the standards of the necessary pressures.

An under-inflated tire won't have the same drive through the snow as a properly inflated one does. Similar to a hydroplaning effect, the lack of air is dangerous. Make sure you put the valve cap back on after your done!

6. Two words: Survival Kit

With a life full of uncertainty, even when you feel the utmost prepared, it’s not bad to keep some extra supplies around just in case of emergencies. With a car blanket coming to mind, keeping one handy is a must during the cold season. Another item would be a plastic bag, which would come in handy to turn ice into water, to stick out of your window if you need to abandon it, or even to carry some survival snack (optional, but for some, necessary). A flashlight is a must in any survival kit, especially since it gets dark around 5 pm (at least where we are located it does). Some other options are backup power sources for your phone, a lighter, a small first aid kit, etc. Pack anything you think you will need to get through a car breakdown, minor accident or anything of that nature.

7. Full Tank of Gas

It seems so silly and simple, but having a full tank of gas is such a necessity in the winter months. If your tank isn’t full, water may accumulate and freeze, causing it to get stuck and create problems immediately or down the road. Always being conscious of your gas gage is key to surviving the cold!

We hope these tips help you in preparing for the winter weather to come. If you have any other tips that you would like to share, feel free to! We love hearing what others have to say. We wish you a safe and successful rest of your year and Happy Holidays!