Over the last couple of weeks I have talked a lot about winter weather preparations on our blog. We have talked about preparing our yards, homes, food storage, emergency supplies and more. I have one more area of preparation I am tackling this week. I checked my car for emergency supplies and got it stocked with everything I need for winter driving. Now I need to get my car ready for winter.
In the bad weather it is definitely better to minimize travel, but if travel is necessary, keeping your car ready to operate safely in severe weather is a must. Winter weather can provide a variety of unexpected emergency situations. When preparing for winter weather it is always best to prepare for the worst possible conditions you may be facing. In my area this is blizzard conditions and iced over roads. My car needs to be ready to face these hazardous road conditions. Here are some of the things I am doing, follow along and get your car ready for winter too.
Snow tires or all-season tires with good tread
Check out the tires on your car. How is the tread? There is a big difference between tread that passes state safety inspections and tread that will drive well with icy and snowy roads. On bad roads, bald tires are a hazard to you and to all of the other cars around you. If you already have snow tires, put them on your car now. If your car’s tires have unsafe tread, get new tires or get snow tires. Tire preparation is a big part of getting your car ready for winter.
Antifreeze
When was the last time you checked or changed your antifreeze? This is another important vehicle preparation that often gets overlooked. Antifreeze keeps for car from overheating and keeps your engine from freezing during extreme weather. Check your owner’s manual for specific instructions on how to replace the antifreeze in your car. Checking and changing the antifreeze is important when you are getting your car ready for winter.
Battery
A good battery in your car is essential in winter weather. Winter temperatures are hard on a car’s battery. One battery website states that “Your vehicle’s battery loses 33 percent of its power when the temperature dips below freezing, and over 50 percent of its power when the temperature falls below zero.” That is enough of a change to make a marginally functional battery useless in cold weather. Don’t chance being stuck and left stranded in the cold. Replace any car battery that isn’t in great shape. The battery is another thing you don’t want to forget when you are getting your car ready for winter.
Don’t warm up car in garage or unattended outdoors
This item is more of a reminder than a preparation. Each year there are reports of people who have an emergency situation because they try to warm up their cars in a closed garage or unattended outdoors. There are carbon monoxide poisonings and car thefts. Avoid the possibility of these situations by deciding now to warm up your vehicle safely. Keep gloves and a blanket in the car if necessary to stay warm when warming up your car. Do whatever it takes to mentally prepare to warm up the car safely. It is another important thing to remember when you are getting your car ready for winter.
These are a few of the ways I getting my car ready for winter. I’ll share a few more tomorrow in part two of the blog. Have some ideas to share? We’d love to hear from you!