Winterize Your Car for the Upcoming Season

With Winter right around the corner, it’s important to get your car prepared for the extreme weather conditions in Michigan. In fact, doing so could save your life or at the very least, save you a lot of hassle later on. Read below for the top ten tips to prepare your car for the winter season…even if you live in a warm climate area but are planning on traveling to a colder state to visit relatives for the holidays, you might want to check these out!

• Get the right kind of oil change. If your car is approaching the 30,000 mile makers, it’s time to get the full-service treatment! Among other things, the service should include an oil change, and the oil used should have the right viscosity, or thickness, for your vehicle at this time of year.
• Make sure you can see. Windshield wipers usually work effectively for about one year, so be sure to invest in some new ones if you’re due. Here’s another important step to take before you find yourself struggling to see in a blinding storm: Fill up your windshield washer reservoir with windshield washer fluid. (Plain water won’t do the trick at this time of year because it freezes.) Also check to see that your heater and defroster are working properly so you can keep the windshield nice and clear.
• Give your battery some TLC. Make sure your battery’s posts and connections are corrosion-free and that your battery has all the water it needs. If your battery is more than three years old, have a certified repair shop test its ability to hold a charge.
• Examine your belts and hoses. When you take your car in for it’s 30,000 mile check-up, have your belts and hoses checked for wear and tear. Cold weather can damage these vital components of your vehicle.
• Check your tire pressure. Make sure your tires are adequately filled for the winter weather–in order to get the best traction in slippery conditions, your tires need to be filled to the tire pressure standards for your vehicle (check your owner’s manual for your car). In addition, the air pressure in your tires has likely dropped as the weather has gotten colder, so it’s important to see where things stand now. (You can generally expect that you’ll lose 1 pound per square inch whenever the temperature drops by 10 degrees Fahrenheit).
• Think about switching to snow tires. If you live in a hilly place or a rural area, you might want to consider getting snow tires on your vehicle to help with traction. When shopping around for snow tires, ask about all the fees that might come into play, such as fees for mounting and balancing–or ask for the "out-the-door" cost .
• Do you have four-wheel drive? Most drivers don’t use their four-wheel drive system in the Summer months. Make sure that you have your system checked to make sure it’s working properly and also teach your entire family how to activate the system and when they should activate the system.
• Get the anti-freeze system just right. Aim for having a 50-50 mix of antifreeze (coolant) and water inside your radiator. This will prevent the mixture from freezing even at ridiculously cold temperatures. Also, it’s easy to test the mixture by purchasing an inexpensive antifreeze tester, which you can purchase at auto parts stores. If the mixture is off, your cooling system should be drained and refilled or flushed. Be sure you’re equipped to dispose of your old antifreeze properly if you do this job yourself.
• Prepare an emergency kit for the winter. God forbid you get stranded on the road, but you will still want to prepare a kit that includes: a blanket, an extra set of boots and gloves, extra water and food including hard candies, warm clothes, an ice scraper, a small shovel, a flashlight, windshield wiper fluid, an extra set of windshield wipers, flares, jumper cables, a tool kit, tire chains, a tire gauge, a spare tire with air in it, tire-changing equipment, a first-aid kit, paper towels, and a bag of abrasive material such as sand or kitty litter to help you get traction under your tires. In addition, try to keep your gas tank as full as possible at all times so that the gas line doesn’t freeze.
• Know what to do if you get stranded. Don’t wander away from your car unless you know where you are and exactly how far away help is. Put on the extra clothes and cover yourself with the blanket. Light two flares and put them in the front and back of the car to call attention to your situation. If you have enough gas in the tank, run the engine and heater for about 10 minutes for each hour you’re waiting for help. Leave at least one window open a little bit so that snow and ice don’t seal the car shut. Suck on a hard candy to prevent your mouth from getting too dry.

Remember these tips and best wishes for safe winter driving!