Preparing Your Car For The Winter

Driving in inclement winter weather can be dangerous if you aren't prepared. However, you need to do more than stock your car with basic necessities for an emergency. You need to prepare your car for the winter weather too. If your vehicle is prepared for winter weather, it's less likely that you'll encounter any major issues. Learn more about how you can prepare your car for the cold weather. 

Get Your Oil Changed

It's possible for cold weather to make the oil in your car thicker, and when this happens, it's more difficult for oil to flow through your engine properly when you start your car. In order to keep your car running well, you need to get the oil changed on a regular basis. If you're unsure how frequently you should have the oil changed in the winter, look in the owner's manual for your vehicle for the recommended mile range for oil changes, and have the oil changed when your car reaches the mileage at the low end of the range. Also, when you take your car in for an oil change, ask the mechanic to use winter-weight motor oil, which is a thinner consistency.

Check the Tread on Your Tires

It's hard to come to a complete stop on snowy or icy roads if your tires are bald, so you need to make sure the tires have enough tread. Your tires are considered legally "bald" if they have less than 2/32 inches of tread on them. However, if the area that you live in is prone to snowy and icy road conditions, you should start tire shopping when your tire tread is less than 5/32 inches deep. You can check the depth of your tire tread by inserting the pin of a tire tread depth gauge into the shallowest groove on your tire, and reading the measurement on the gauge once the base of the gauge is flush with the tire.

Other Considerations

It's also important to make sure your car's heater and defroster are in proper working order. Not only does this make it easier to remove snow and ice from your car, but a properly working heater will keep you comfortable while driving. If possible, you should consider having a remote starter installed (by professionals such as Century Sound Sales & Service) on your vehicle. A remote starter allows you to start your vehicle from a remote location. So, you can start the car and let it warm up before you venture out into the cold weather. Additionally, you should make sure you have any cracks or chips in your windshield replaced so the cold weather doesn't make them worse, and replace your windshield wiper blades with blades that are designed for winter weather.

Fortunately, it isn't difficult to prepare your car for cold weather, and chances are, you'll be glad you did. Preparing your car for the cold winter weather helps you avoid major car problems that can occur from the bitter cold, as well as makes it easier for you travel in cold weather.

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