How to Get Your Car Ready for Cold Weather?

How to Get Your Car Ready for Cold Weather?

If you are planning to travel on the road during the winter season, you need to ensure that your car is in pristine condition. Dropping temperatures might lead to some problems in your car, which can be avoided by some maintenance and preventive care. Here are some cool tips to prepare your car for cold weather. 

Change to Winter Tires

All-season tires are not suitable for cold weather. The rubber of these tires starts hardening as temperatures drop. At certain temperatures, all-season tires behave like a hardened plastic ball rolling on snow with no traction performance. On the other hand, winter tires have a special rubber formulation that keeps their tread soft even at sub-zero temperatures. Winter tires also have a different tread design that ensures maximum rubber contact with the road. This improves traction performance and makes driving easier and safer on snow-covered roads. 

Check Car Battery 

A car with a dead battery can put you in a difficult situation in cold weather. Hence, you need to check your battery thoroughly before winter sets in. During cold weather, the engine needs more current to start. If the battery is old, it would not be able to provide required current to engine leading to starting problems. Check the battery for charge left. 

If the battery is completely discharged, take it to a professional for a complete checkup. You need to check several things in the battery, like is it able to hold a charge for a long time and if there are any cracks, leaks or signs of rust. Also, check the cables and joints for signs of corrosion. If the battery is more than three years old, consider replacing it. 

Change Engine Oil

Oil thickens at colder temperatures. The result is that it does not provide adequate protection to the engine components. Car manufacturers recommended special engine oil for cold weather. Check the car owner’s manual to know about the right viscosity of oil recommended for cold weather and get the oil changed accordingly.

Clean and Lubricate Doors

During cold weather, the doors are more likely to get jammed and cause inconvenience. To prevent this from happening, clean the door, and apply some light lubrication to joints. 

Use Fresh Coolant

You should ensure that your coolant is new and you are using the right ratio of coolant to water. If you live in a region that has moderately cold weather, the recommended ratio of coolant to water 60/40. If you live in a part with extremely cold weather, you can increase the ratio to 70/30. 

Check the Heater

You will need a functional heater to keep the cabin warm and cozy during cold weather. Clean the heater core tubes so that the heater can use its own coolant supply to warm the cabin. If it is not working properly, flush the heater, which includes draining the grime and coolant and refilling with fresh coolant. 

When roads are covered with snow and icy water, the above tips will winterize your car for colder days and make driving easier and safer for you.