Important Winter Car Maintenance Tips to Consider

An automobile breakdown is never a good thing. You’re driving to your destination to get there as quickly and safely as you can when all of a sudden, your car unexpectedly breaks down, leaving you alone on the road with no one to rescue you. When the scenario takes place in cold weather and you have no idea what to do next, it is even worse. Snow and ice on the roads aren’t the only variables that make winter driving hazardous. You must be prepared for winter driving, but your car must also be capable of handling the journey. Before the winter sets in, make sure your car is prepared by paying attention to the advice provided by the experts of the towing company Calgary below.

1.   Service your Vehicle for Winters

Have your automobile serviced so that it is ready for the challenging conditions that winter weather can present before you encounter any intense iciness.

Battery – Because battery energy declines as the temperature drops, starting your car in the winter requires more effort. Your chance of breaking down rises if your battery is already having issues. For optimal winter performance, it is advised that your car service professional install a battery with a CCA of at least 600. 

Cooling System – The ideal antifreeze-to-water ratio for the cooling system is between 50/50 and 70/30. To protect yourself against corrosion and capacity freezing, ask your mechanic what antifreeze needs to be used for your automobile and the proper coolant-to-water ratio.

Brakes – While driving in dreary weather conditions won’t necessarily result in poor brake performance, a thorough inspection can guarantee it.

Spark plugs, wires, cables, belts, and hoses – These can go horribly at any time of year, but if they go horribly all through the iciness, you could end up stranded for a very long period in a very cold place. 

2.   Change To Winter Tires

All-season tires can be used in winter conditions, but they won’t provide you the best performance possible for your location. It is advised that you install winter tires while winterizing your car if you live in a region that experiences exceptionally cold temperatures. Non-winter weather tires’ rubber compounds harden when the temperature consistently hangs around or below freezing, which decreases the tire’s ability to grip the pavement. In order to provide superior traction on ice, snow, slush, and even dry pavement, winter tires use special materials that are designed to survive hardening in bloodless temperatures.

All-season tires should be appropriate if you reside somewhere that doesn’t typically experience harsh winters. Winter weather tires, on the other hand, are your best option if you frequently visit or live somewhere with harsh winters.

3.   Keep Tire Pressure Up

Every 10° change in the surrounding temperature should indicate a benefit or disadvantage of 1 PSI. In this way, you should fill off your tires as needed and check tire pressure more frequently during cold weather. You can find the recommended tire pressure on your car’s owner’s manual or on the tire placard in the driver’s side door jamb. 

4.  Verify Any Changes in Temperature

Examine the possibility of temperature changes while you’re out before venturing out for a prolonged winter pressure. If there is a sudden change that you are now unprepared for, changing temps might influence both your traction and riding ability. For instance, how you should pressure in zero-degree weather is very different from how you could pressure in 32-degree weather. In general, you have more traction at zero degrees than you do at 32 degrees because surfaces become slicker in these better winter conditions.

5.  Set Up Winter Wipers

These are equipped with rubber to prevent ice from building up on the blades. Just be sure to remove them till spring arrives. Winter wipers are heavier than regular ones, so keeping them on constantly puts more strain on the wiper motor.

6.   Maintain Full Washer Fluid

Replace the fluid in your windscreen wipers frequently. A single blizzard can use up a lot of this fluid, so periodically top off the washer reservoir with windscreen wiper fluid designed for wintry weather. Add a bottle of washer fluid antifreeze to the reservoir if you’re not sure if your washer fluid will work properly at cold temperatures. Most stores that sell vehicle parts will have it. 

7.    Compile A Winters Kit

Save common equipment and supplies in your car before leaving on a journey in case of emergency. Remember to keep a pack of matches, a first aid kit, flares, a flashlight and batteries, ice scrappers, nonperishable food and beverage items, warm clothes, extra jackets and socks, a shovel, jumper cables, extra antifreeze, and car tool kit before going to drive outside into the snow.

8.    Maintain Your Fuel Tank

In winter, it is more important to keep fuel in the tank than in summer. Why? One problem is that a full tank prevents condensation, which may prevent fuel line freeze-ups. Not only that, but if you ever become stuck, your engine can be the simplest thing to keep you warm until assistance arrives. Maintain the functionality of your rear window defroster.

9.   Keep Defroster in Working Order

It may be hazardous to ride if you can’t see what’s behind you. Because of this, several states have regulations requiring you to keep all of your home windows free of condensation and dirt. Before the winter weather sets in, make sure your car’s rear window defroster is in good order. 

10.   Get Prepared for Winter Emergencies

If you ever get stranded, it’s important to know what to do before an emergency arises. Do not leave your vehicle if you are riding during a winter typhoon since you could lose control of it. Stop letting your car run for extended periods of time. Instead, turn it on for just long enough to live, heat it, then turn it off again to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Turn on your hazard lights to attract attention. 

11. Read Up on Winter Driving Safety

Before driving on snowy or icy roads, it’s a good idea to be familiar with how to drive in winter weather conditions. Consider the following points.

–        What tools to use on snow and ice?

–        How fast should you drive?

–        How much distance should you keep from other vehicles on the road?

–        What to do if you are sliding and how to go up and down?

 Final Verdict

Making the necessary preparations for winter is essential because with the right care, your car’s lifespan can be significantly increased. Even while good car upkeep is vital year-round, the winter is when it’s most important. Winter driving conditions make people more vulnerable to accidents, so the best way to avoid casualties is to maintain the condition of your automobile. Be aware of how to deal with any mishap while driving, and if you can’t understand anything just call a towing company Calgary for roadside assistance.