7 Tips for Winter Vehicle Maintenance!
Winter is here to stay awhile and you may be wondering how often should you get maintenance on your car and what should vehicle maintenance include for winter? If you drive a lot of miles in snowy or rainy conditions, you need your car to be a reliable source of transportation, operating at its highest level of power and performance. The best way to avoid the expense and frustration of breakdowns is by taking care of routine vehicle maintenance items before you start noticing car problems.
Although preventative vehicle maintenance is important any time of the year, the winter checklist needs a little extra attention. Here are several tips that will help you drive as safe as possible in winter conditions:
- Winter wipers – Winter wipers are made with rubber that keeps ice from collecting on them. Because these wipers are heavier than regular wipers, remove them when spring arrives to prevent burning out your wiper motor.
- Install snow tires – Snow tires use special compounds in the rubber that are resistant to hardening in cold temperatures, providing better traction in ice and snow. Also, if you know you will be traveling in extra snowy conditions, keep chains in the trunk and know how to install them. Be sure to check tread wear and air pressure frequently.
- Keep the washer fluid reservoir full – When driving in snow and ice, you will use a lot of windshield washer fluid so make sure it has a solution of antifreeze in it so it doesn’t freeze up.
- Safety kit – If you know you will be driving out on the highway, pack some safety equipment, including an ice scraper, bag of sand and a shovel, flares, extra antifreeze, flashlight and batteries, tool kit, jumper cables, lug wrench, and jack for changing a tire, blankets, extra warm clothing, and boots, plus snacks and water. Remember the charger for your cell phone!
- Keep up with recommended vehicle maintenance – Before heading out on a road trip, have that needed oil change and a radiator inspection to make sure you have the correct antifreeze to water ratio. Batteries, belts, and hoses, spark plugs, wires and cables can go bad at any time of year, so make sure they are all in good condition.
- Fill up the tank – A full fuel tank can help prevent the gas line freeze-up. If you happen to get stranded somewhere, you may need to run the engine to stay warm until help arrives.
- Make sure the rear window defroster works – Being able to see behind is safer for driving any time of year!
If you’re still wondering how often should you get maintenance on your car, contact our ASE Certified technicians at Expert Car Care for more information about recommended vehicle maintenance and schedule an appointment. Our auto shop proudly serves residents in the community of West Allis, WI, and the surrounding area.
Winter is here to stay awhile and you may be wondering how often should you get maintenance on your car and what should vehicle maintenance include for winter? If you drive a lot of miles in snowy or rainy conditions, you need your car to be a reliable source of transportation, operating at its highest level of power and performance. The best way to avoid the expense and frustration of breakdowns is by taking care of routine vehicle maintenance items before you start noticing car problems.
Although preventative vehicle maintenance is important any time of the year, the winter checklist needs a little extra attention. Here are several tips that will help you drive as safe as possible in winter conditions:
- Winter wipers – Winter wipers are made with rubber that keeps ice from collecting on them. Because these wipers are heavier than regular wipers, remove them when spring arrives to prevent burning out your wiper motor.
- Install snow tires – Snow tires use special compounds in the rubber that are resistant to hardening in cold temperatures, providing better traction in ice and snow. Also, if you know you will be traveling in extra snowy conditions, keep chains in the trunk and know how to install them. Be sure to check tread wear and air pressure frequently.
- Keep the washer fluid reservoir full – When driving in snow and ice, you will use a lot of windshield washer fluid so make sure it has a solution of antifreeze in it so it doesn’t freeze up.
- Safety kit – If you know you will be driving out on the highway, pack some safety equipment, including an ice scraper, bag of sand and a shovel, flares, extra antifreeze, flashlight and batteries, tool kit, jumper cables, lug wrench, and jack for changing a tire, blankets, extra warm clothing, and boots, plus snacks and water. Remember the charger for your cell phone!
- Keep up with recommended vehicle maintenance – Before heading out on a road trip, have that needed oil change and a radiator inspection to make sure you have the correct antifreeze to water ratio. Batteries, belts, and hoses, spark plugs, wires and cables can go bad at any time of year, so make sure they are all in good condition.
- Fill up the tank – A full fuel tank can help prevent the gas line freeze-up. If you happen to get stranded somewhere, you may need to run the engine to stay warm until help arrives.
- Make sure the rear window defroster works – Being able to see behind is safer for driving any time of year!
If you’re still wondering how often should you get maintenance on your car, contact our ASE Certified technicians at Expert Car Care for more information about recommended vehicle maintenance and schedule an appointment. Our auto shop proudly serves residents in the community of West Allis, WI, and the surrounding area.
