Description: The cold season is here but it is still not too late to prevent potential damage to your car brought by the lower temperatures. Just follow these simple steps for your car’s maintenance.
Winter has come. But if you haven’t prepared your car for it yet, don’t worry. Here are some of the things you can do to protect your car from potential damage brought about by the cold season.
Protect your exterior
Wash your car. Don’t let dirt and mud linger on your car’s exterior for too long because they can ruin your car’s paint job. Apply wax on your car’s exterior to protect against the elements. If possible, keep your car under in a covered area, preferably in a garage or a carport, or a carpark if you are not parking at home. If you are not going to use your car during winter, it is best to cover it.
Check your oil and antifreeze
Check your car fluids before it gets even colder. You may invest in fully synthetic oil that flows more freely at lower temperatures and does not require any time to warm up.
If you think you don’t need to have antifreeze in your cooling system because the temperature in your area doesn’t reach freezing levels, think again. Aside from preventing water in your cooling system from freezing, antifreeze raises the boiling point of your coolant reservoir to prevent overheating. It also protects your engine from corrosion, aids in the transfer of heat and helps prevent scale from forming and building up in your engine.
Invest in new windshield wiper and tires
There are more factors that impede your vision during winter than in any other season. Cold temperatures will fog your windshield, which will make it harder for you to see. Replace your windshield wipers if they leave streaks or gaps in the glass.
It is also important to invest in new tires. Roads tend to be more slippery during winter because of early morning condensation or rain. It is more likely that old tires will have shallower treads making them more prone to slipping.
Replace any dimming bulb of your headlights and tail lights. Roads can sometimes be hard to see especially if they are covered with snow. Do not let the risk of getting into an accident increase by letting your bulbs dim.
Check your battery
Keep in mind that your car battery is working harder during the cold season than any other season. Heating the oil that runs the engine needs more power from a battery.
If your battery is more than three years old, it might be time to replace it. Don’t risk using an old battery especially during winter. You would not want to get stuck in the cold weather waiting for towing services.
Keep your gas tank filled
Always
keep your gas tank full, especially during winter. The cold temperature
outside and the warm temperature in the car’s interior can cause
condensation to form in the empty part of your gas tank. This
condensation will impede your fuel lines, which could cause a no-start
or a stall.
Keeping your gas tank filled also means you have plenty of gas to help warm your car in case you get stranded by the side of the road. Gas also acts as a coolant to the motor of your electric fuel pump, keeping them within normal temperature even during winter.
It is ideal to check your car before the cold season hits, that way you’re fully prepared for winter. But it’s never to late to make sure that your car is well protected and in great shape whatever the season.
