As the nights grow longer and the mercury falls lower, our thoughts turn to preparing for winter – and this is the case all around the home including in the garage. In fact, the car is in many ways an extension of the home; it is a place where we often gather, it fulfills an essential role for families and individuals, and more besides. And just like the rest of the home, your car needs to be treated a little different in the winter months than the rest of the year. Keep in mind the following tips for maintenance as the year turns towards its coldest spell.
Garage and exterior of the car
Before you even get into the car, the maintenance begins. If you park your car in a garage, then you need to make sure the garage is in a condition to keep the car protected and functioning well. Investing in heavy duty mats for snow is a good place to begin, as these prevent snow, ice and grime from damaging the garage floor. In addition to this, they capture water that runs off the car as snow and ice melt, preventing it from pooling on the floor and becoming a slipping hazard.
The exterior of the car needs its care too – adding a coat of wax to the car’s paint will guard against salt and grit that gets picked up off snowy roads, and grime that is kicked up when you drive through puddles. This isn’t merely an esthetic consideration; if paint becomes damaged, the car provides less of a protective shell for the interior workings. Also think about replacing windshield wipers with winter-specific versions that can handle a heavier set of duties.
Essential checks under the bonnet
The winter months are when your car is most likely to develop a fault. The extremes of temperature and the presence of water will always present more of a challenge than sunny days and clear skies. It’s utterly essential to keep antifreeze topped up so your car doesn’t struggle to get going, and think about winter-specific oil that will help your engine run smoothly even in the worst weather.
Windshield washer fluid also can be replaced with a winter-proof version, which will help visibility stay as clear as possible whatever the weather. And while you’re under the bonnet, run a test on your battery; cold weather drains it quicker than anything else, especially if you run the car for a moment before driving to help it warm up. Make sure the battery is fully charged, and be ready to recharge or even replace it if necessary.
Tires and brakes
It’s easy to forget the heavy-duty job that car tires do, they’re kind of just there, but bear in mind that they’re supporting about a ton of metal and machinery and handling multiple terrains, and they tend to do it without a murmur of protest. This job is harder in winter, and depending on the weather you’re expecting to deal with, you should look into adding snow tires to the car – or at least fitting snow chains to the tires you have. These will offer better grip and braking, and can extend the life of your tires.
If you’re keeping the same tires, at least check that the tread depth is as good as it should be. You may be subject to municipal laws on how deep the tread is supposed to be, but even if you aren’t, a depth of at least 1/16 of an inch, and preferably ⅛ would be ideal. As well as your tires, it’s also a good idea to check and test your brakes. Remember that winter weather means longer stopping distances, so your brakes need to be as responsive and as firm as can be. Get them checked by a mechanic and tightened if you have any doubts.
Emergency kit
Every car should have, in its trunk or somewhere else easily accessible, an emergency kit that allows you to be ready for things going wrong in winter. You can decide what should be in this kit, but it is essential to have at least the basics that will be useful should your car develop a fault while you are on the road in inclement weather. At least one spare battery is vital – being stuck somewhere with a drained battery is bad news, as they take forever to get charged to the point where a car can start. There should also be a small shovel so you can dig the car out if it gets stuck in snow, and some blankets so you can wait out an issue until breakdown assistance arrives.
In addition to these essentials, your kit should contain bottles of water. This will be necessary for drinking if you’re going to be stuck for a while, as well as potentially replenishing the reservoirs under your car’s hoods and also washing things that may need it. A flashlight will be beneficial considering the need to deal with things getting darker, and there is one final inclusion not to miss – some cat litter or rock salt which can be used to scatter in snow, adding some grit to the surface to help if the car gets stuck. This can be swapped out for, or included alongside, some traction boards which perform a similar role.
Your car performs a lot of the same roles as your home – becoming a place where you gather and chat, a space for entertainment and a protective barrier against the elements. So as you prepare for winter around the house, make sure you are also prepared to give your car the same support. Hopefully, you won’t need to do that much, but if you can check off all of the above you can at least be prepared for the winter months with a car that can handle the worst the season has to throw at it. You’d rather have these measures and not need them, than need them and not have them.