Winter Car Care Tips to Keep Your Vehicle Running Smoothly
Snowy winter weather in Manchester MD can leave you navigating truly rough roads ahead. To travel safely, you must remember the DOT’s ‘Drive to Survive’ rules and keep your vehicle in great shape. Your efforts will go a long way in helping you move through the harsh conditions to all your destinations. Need help getting your vehicle winter ready? Just use these winter car care tips to keep your vehicle running smoothly.
Do Maintenance First
Preventative maintenance is everything when it comes to keeping your car running at its best. Oil changes, brake service, and all the other essential maintenance tasks actively prevent minor issues from becoming a big headache.
Need help figuring out what’s due? Just ask your service advisor for insights on the factory-recommended maintenance schedule for your car’s year, make, and model. Then, just come into the shop as recommended for maintenance and auto repair Manchester MD.
Get Winter Tires Put On
Winter tires are a must when traveling over icy and snowy roadways. The softer winter tire compound improves grip in cold weather and doesn’t freeze up like all-season tires do.
Ideally, you’ll want to get winter tire changeover services when temperatures hit about 40 degrees Fahrenheit. You can streamline this service by having your winter tires mounted on an extra set of rims. If that’s not possible, your mechanic can remove your all-seasons and mount winter tires in their place.
Confirm Your Heat Works
Your car’s heater not only keeps you warm but also helps defrost your windows so that you can see clearly. So, it’s important to confirm that your heat works well before the winter weather arrives.
If your vents blow cold air, produce weak airflow, or smell like maple syrup, come into the shop for auto repair right away. Upon doing that, your ASE-certified auto tech will go through the diagnostic steps to see if your heater core, thermostat, or other parts have failed.
Complete a Light Check
With the daylight hours ending at 5 pm each day, you need your car’s lights more than ever in the winter. A light check ensures you can see and be seen, helping you stay much safer on the roads.
You can get someone to help you check your headlights, taillights, turn signals, and side markers. Or, if you prefer, your auto tech can just handle it for you while completing a thorough inspection.
Upgrade Your Wipers
Manchester MD winter weather definitely puts windshield wipers through their paces. You can ensure they are up for the job by getting a high-quality set made for cold weather.
To do that, look for winter windshield wipers that have a reinforced frame, robust hinges, and a higher tensile strength. As for washer fluid, use a formula infused with de-icer to improve visibility even more.
Build a Winter Safety Kit
Getting stuck in the snow is always a possibility despite your—and your car’s—best efforts. A winter safety kit can help you stay safe while waiting for help to arrive.
A truly helpful kit includes:
- Non-perishable food
- Drinking water
- Blanket
- Poncho
- Flares
- Flashlight
- Kitty litter
- Snow shovel
- Jumper cable
To create your kit, just put all that stuff in a waterproof tub and throw it in your trunk. Hopefully, you’ll never need it, but if you do, you’ll be glad to see it sitting there.
Keep the Gas Tank Half Full
You never know when adverse weather conditions will send you down an alternate route. That’s why you must keep your gas tank at least half full from October through March. In fact, it’s a good idea whenever you can swing it, ensuring you always have the fuel needed to continue on your way.
