The cold winter months are close at hand and for people living in colder areas that receive snow and ice should be prepared. Many people put off getting their car ready for winter but following a few steps can make a huge difference. You want your vehicle to last the winter and come out of it in good shape. Vehicles are expensive and you have to spend money to maintain them and a little maintenance now will save a lot of trouble and money later on. Many of the tips in this article can be done in one day or you could divide it over a weekend. This is definitely a good investment in time.
Undercoating
For people that don't know, this is when you get a coating of oil sprayed on the undercarriage of your car. Depending on where you go it could cost anywhere from 50-100 dollars. Its a pretty quick job as well, taking only around 30-40 minutes depending on how through the mechanic is. Many people are now offering the service out of their own garage because it is relatively easy to set-up. Either way, this is a great investment for your car as a coat of oil will protect your car through the winter from the snow, ice, water and salt. If you think its too much money to spend just think about how much it would cost to replace your exhaust system.
Change Oil
An oil change is cheap and will make a big difference to your engine. The difference may not be very obvious but it will save wear and tear on your engine. Your engine will last longer and save you from repairs and having to buy a new car. Being rigorous about the oil change schedule on your vehicle will allow you to realize a big gain in overall mileage on your vehicle. I suggest, especially for winter, using 100% synthetic oil. The price isn't much more expensive over conventional oil but again the difference will be great.
For people who are a little confused on which type to use, most cars and light trucks use 5W30 in the summer and 10W30 in the winter. Most medium and large cars will take 5-6 litres of oil but you should definitely read your owners manual to see exactly what the manufacturer recommends first.
Fluids
Going under the hood and checking all the fluid levels should be a regular job for car owners. Cars have several different fluids and all of them are important to keep you vehicle running properly. Brake fluid, power steering fluid, transmission fluid or clutch fluid if you have a manual transmission. The two most important ones for winter are antifreeze and wind shield washer fluid. Many people use simply water only in their vehicles and in the summer months that's fine but in the winter you need antifreeze or else the water will freeze and cause a lot of damage. Many people will say that mixing antifreeze and water in a 50-50 solution is sufficient and most times it is. However, if you want to spend a few extra bucks and put in 100% antifreeze then you will have nothing to worry about and your car will warm-up and run that much better.
Snow Tires
This is the most expensive investment for winterizing your vehicle but the benefits may save your life or the life of your car. Tires these days come in two variants for normal cars which is "all season" and "winter". All season tires really aren't that good for winter and making the switch to winter tires will make a dramatic improvement on the road. Ideally, you want to have the winter tires on a separate set of rims, usually steel. People that are worried about the cost should check their owners manual or look online to find out the bolt pattern of their car. In some cases wheels from one manufacturer may fit on a different manufacturers vehicle so long as the bolt pattern is the same. In this way it may be possible to find a set at a scrapyard or online that would be much cheaper than buying new.
One more advantage to having snow tires is that some insurance providers will offer a discount on your rate if you have snow tires installed on your vehicle. Call your insurance provider and ask if they do or not. Making a simple phone call could save you some money and make the sting of those new snow tires a little more tolerable.
Windshield Wipers
These are often forgotten because in warmer months they seem to work just fine but come winter with the snow and ice they don't seem to work as well. You will never notice how bad your wipers are until the cold weather hits. For this reason if you haven't changed your wipers in years then you should consider changing them before winter. Windshield wiper manufacturers recommend changing them at least once a year or when you notice a difference in performance. Check your wipers for cracks and chips. Also, if they are not making proper contact with the windshield, smearing or leaving streaks. A new set of wipers wont cost you much at all but the difference in visibility will leave you thankful that you changed them.
The last note on windshield wipers is kind of a pro-tip. If you check the weather forecast for the next day or hear that there will be a large snow fall then bend your wiper arms back so they are sticking out in the air. This will save you the hassle of breaking the wipers loose from the ice when you use your car next. Save time and possibly breaking your wipers by doing this.
Test Battery
If you have a roadside assistance package then you can call them to come and test your battery to see if its good or bad. They will come and put a load on your battery to see if the amperage drops low and tell you the results. If its bad then consider buying a new battery. If you don't feel like wasting a call to get roadside assistance then you can also check your battery yourself if you have a multimeter. A basic multimeter actually doesn't cost very much. If you go to a hardware store you could even get one for around $30. Testing the battery is pretty simple. First set the meter to 20 DC Volts, connect the red probe to the positive terminal on your battery and the black probe to the negative terminal. A fully charged battery should read 12 volts (sometimes 14.4 volts). If it reads lower than 10 volts then you can expect problems starting your car in the colder weather and should consider changing it..
Ice Scraper
There are some tools that you can keep in your car in case of emergencies but having a good quality ice scraper and snow brush is essential. Believe it or not some people will still drive in winter, at least in the beginning, and don't have one. There is almost no excuse why you shouldn't have one. They are cheap and sold everywhere in multiple styles. Make sure you clear the snow and ice from your lights and licence plates before you go driving.
If you have the time sweep the snow off your roof so it doesn't fly into the windshield of the driver behind you. Its a common courtesy and will help keep the roads safer.
Emergency Kit
This is more of an option if you want to be really prepared and have some extra money to spend. Emergency car kits can be expensive based on what you want. If you plan on doing some long distance driving during winter then it may be a good idea to invest in one. If you plan on staying in town or taking short trips then you probably don't need one. Be warned though if you are stuck in the middle of no where it could safe your life or at the very least make waiting for a tow truck much more comfortable.
Final Words
Out of any other time of year investing a little money in your vehicle in winter will go a very long way. Try and do everything on the list and you will notice a big difference during and after winter. Other things you should be doing for winter is letting your car warm-up when you first start it. Let it idle for 5-10 minutes. This will allow the oil and transmission fluid to warm-up and start cycling through the engine thus reducing wear and tear when driving. You should also be checking the lights periodically to make sure they are still working. Light bulbs are very delicate and can break or burn out in cold weather. Hopefully, with doing all these steps everyone will have a safe and comfortable winter driving experience.
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