Best Ways to take care of your Car in the Winter
Best Ways to take care of your Car in the Winter
Posted on March 25, 2022
The winters in Canada are becoming increasingly severe. Slippery roads, heavy snow, and cold weather aren’t ideal conditions to take the car out, but sometimes you have to. It’s essential to prepare your car for the approaching winter. In other words: give it winter car maintenance.
Your Car Doesn’t Like the Cold
The cold has a negative impact on various parts of the car, so it’s good to test if these parts are all still up to the job with winter car care. However, winterizing your car is about protecting it and having a safety function. For example, good winter tires reduce the risk of skidding on slippery roads. However, you must always be careful; roads can be more dangerous than they appear. So constantly adjust your driving speed and behaviour to the conditions.
To help you prepare your car and yourself for the winter as effectively as possible, we’ve put together some tips for you below.
What Do You Need?
In winter, you should have as standard in your car: a windshield scraper, including a squeegee to remove the excess moisture from your windows, and a chamois cloth for the inside of your windows. If you hate scratching or are always running out of time, a windshield screen is a good purchase. You can put it over your windshield at night, and in the morning, your window will still be completely clean. It’s best to have a flashlight and a small “survival kit” in the car. Suppose you find yourself in a long-standing traffic jam while it’s cold outside. You'll be glad you have a warm blanket and some food and drink in your car.
Windshield Washer Fluid With Antifreeze
Use antifreeze windshield washer fluid because ordinary windshield washer fluid can freeze as soon as it comes into contact with the windshield. Also, check to ensure there’s enough left in the bottle. Prefer not to use water unless you have pure windshield washer fluid that you need to dilute with it.
Check Your Wiper Blades
Good visibility is crucial when you’re caught in a snowstorm or hail. Therefore, check your wiper blades for cracks. You do this by lifting the wiper blades and feeling the end of the rubber. If there’s a crack, they’ll need to be replaced.
Checking the Battery
It happens to almost everyone: a broken battery. Especially in the winter months because batteries don't cope well with the cold. If your battery is older than five years, it’s better to replace it. The batteries manufactured nowadays often have a light that indicates whether the battery is still good.
Winter-Proof Coolant
Never top up the coolant with water. It won't be the first time an engine block cracks because the water has frozen, causing it to expand. Unsure if the coolant in your used car can handle winter temperatures? Then stop at the Car Service Duncan. If you have a problem with your vehicle in the winter, you can get quality service there. After your visit, you’ll know for sure that your car is winter-ready.