Do cars still need to be winterized?
Yes, it's always a good idea to winterized your car read inL
To winterize your car, you should:
- Get a Tune-up. This will ensure that your Engine and other major Parts are in good working order and can handle the cold weather.
- Check your Fluids. Make sure that your Oil, Coolant, Brake Fluid, and Windshield Washer Fluid are all at the proper levels.
- Replace your Tires. If you live in an area that gets a lot of snow and ice, you should consider switching to snow tires. Snow tires are designed to grip snow and ice better than all-season tires. Although we have good all-season on our personal Vehicles and they are great.
- Inspect your Battery. Cold weather can drain a Battery's power more quickly. Testing your Battery to see if it might need to be replaced.
- Check your heater. Make sure that your cars' Heater is working properly and that the air vents are clear of debris.
- Stock your car with an emergency kit. This should include items such as jumper cables, a flashlight, a first-aid kit, blankets and food and water.
Here is a more detailed checklist of things you can do to winterize your car:
- Check your Tire Tread. Tires with worn tread are more likely to hydroplane on wet roads and skid on icy roads. Your tires should have at least 4/32 of an inch of tread remaining.
- Inflate your Tires to the proper pressure. Low Tire Pressure can reduce traction and increase the risk of a blowout. The owner's manual recommends tire pressure for your vehicle.
- Consider snow tires. Snow tires are designed to grip snow and ice better than all-season tires. If you live in an area that gets a lot of snow and ice, snow tires can help you stay safe on the road.
- Inspect your Brakes. Brakes can be affected by cold weather, so it's important to have them inspected regularly. Make sure that your brake pads and rotors are in good condition and that your brake fluid is at the proper level.
- Check your Battery. Cold weather can drain a battery's power more quickly. If your battery is old or weak, it may be a good idea to have it tested or replaced.
- Inspect your Windshield Wipers. Indianas’ Winter and summers are rough, on our cars we usually replace Windshield Wipers beginning of winter and about 6 months later, depending on severity of the winter/summer.
- Inspect your eadlights and taillights. Make sure that your headlights and taillights are clean and that they are working properly.
- Stock your car with an emergency kit. This should include items such as jumper cables, a flashlight, a first-aid kit, blankets, food, and water.
By following these tips, you can help to ensure that your car is winter-ready and that you stay safe on the road during the cold months.
Winter emergency kit, this is not exhaustive but might head in the right direction
- Jumper cables
- Flashlight
- Extra batteries
- Hand crank or battery-powered radio
- Ice scraper
- Shovel
- Blanket
- First aid kit
- Non-perishable food and drinks
- Toiletries
- Road map
- Being prepared is always the best way to go, hopefully you won’t need these things but just in case…….
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