Now is the Time to Winterize Your Car

No one wants to have a vehicle breakdown in freezing weather or an accident on icy roads due to poor tires. By winterizing your family’s vehicles before heading into demanding driving conditions like blizzards and ice storms, you may help avoid such incidences. Experts offer several tips to help keep you and your family safe and ensure your vehicle is ready to meet the challenge.

Consumer Reports recommends starting with visibility as extreme winter weather impairs our ability to get a good look at what is going on in front of us. If the wiper blades are leaving streak marks, feel stiff, or cracked, replace them. It is a cheap fix and will provide better visibility when you need it. Fill your windshield fluid reservoir with a solution that contains an antifreeze agent. Periodically check and refill throughout the winter as you use much more of it than during mild weather.

Now it also the time to do an inspection of your vehicle’s lights to make sure they are in working order and replace broken bulbs. If headlights appear foggy, try cleaning them with soap and water and then buff with toothpaste; or buy a kit made for cleaning headlights. Experts suggest checking the car’s heater to ensure it is putting out heat as you need the defroster to keep windows clear.

If your area experiences lots of heavy snow and slippery conditions, it’s a good idea to have winter tires put on even if you have all-season tires or drive a 4X4 or all-wheel drive. Tests show winter tires can cut a car's stopping distance in half at higher speeds and improve the vehicle’s handling in cold weather as the tires not only have deeper treads but are made with softer rubber. Some mountain roads may require chains so be prepared if you plan to travel in those areas.

Additional winterizing tips include checking the vehicle’s battery. Many of today’s batteries are sealed (refer to your owner’s manual), and do not require adding distilled water but rather have a window on the top of the battery that indicates the charge. If it doesn’t show a full charge, have it checked out at an auto service center, and replace if needed. Experts also say waxing the exterior before winter will help protect the finish especially if your area uses salt. When washing it, don’t forget to clean underneath.

Once you are done, you are ready to take on the weather regardless of what it brings!

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Source: consumerreports.org/cro/2015/11/winterizing-your-vehicle/index.htm