How To Protect Your Car During Freezing Temperatures

With the winter weather upon us, drivers can take several steps to ensure a properly functioning automobile as the temperatures drop. Taking extra steps to protect cars before sub-freezing temperatures arise can save bigger headaches later on.

Dead batteries are among the most popular service requests during the winter months. Oil in cars thickens when the outdoor air cools down. This means parts move slower, and car batteries require more power to turn over to start the engine.

Therefore, to prevent any sudden stops to your regular driving routine, drivers should maintain their batteries and charging systems by checking them to ensure they’re in good condition. Batteries over three years old are also at a heightened risk of dying during cooler temperatures, according to Austin’s KZAN.

Colder weather can cause tire pressure to decrease as well, affecting traction and making conditions even more dangerous. Inflating tires to their proper depth ensures safety on the road.

Oklahoma’s KFOR suggests other ways to keep your vehicle in shape during the colder months, including essential maintenance upkeep that even a novice driver can do.

If your vehicle has not been maintained in some time, schedule an appointment to get a general overview of the car’s functionality. Have the mechanic check the exhaust system for leaks. Additionally, system fluids such as engine coolant/antifreeze, transmission, and brake fluid should be checked and changed at recommended intervals.

It’s also time to replace worn windshield-wiper blades. Consider investing in rubber-clad “winter” blades to fight snow and ice build-up, using cold-weather windshield washer solvent, and keeping an ice scraper in your car for easy access.

Finally, check that the car’s headlights are working correctly. Take a cloth and wipe down the grime or clouding as needed.

It’s crucial to keep an emergency kit in the vehicle at all times in case you get stuck. According to The Zebra, this should include a flashlight, cat litter to place under wheels for tire traction, a snow shovel, a first aid kit, an ice scraper, jumper cables, extra water, a blanket, a cell phone charger, reflective triangles, nonperishable snacks, matches, and a small toolkit.

The old saying goes that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Drivers who think ahead and try to control what they can in the moment can spare a lot of heartache or cost later on.