Tips: Simple Winter Car Care Tips

Keeping Your Car in Tip-Top Condition in the Cold

This article may contain affiliate links.

Winter is here, and for many drivers that brings the challenges of winter car ownership, too. Whether your car is an EV, plug-in hybrid, hybrid or gas/diesel, the weather will affect your vehicle. If you don’t have a garage or carport, you risk your car being damaged by freezing temperatures and the weather that comes with it.

How can you make sure that your car is kept in tip-top condition during these winter months?

Here are some of the things you can do to care for your car this winter.

Pack Your Survival Kit

If you really want to be ready for winter, you should consider getting a survival kit. If you live in a rural area, you could find yourself stuck in a snowstorm–bad news if you’re unprepared. Stock up your car with blankets, first aid supplies, a flashlight, coats and sweaters and a cellphone charger. You may consider getting a shovel to keep in the trunk if your local climate dictates.

For different types of cars, you will need different items to add to your survival kit. For a 4×4, you might want to think about getting some winter 4×4 accessories, for example.

Do Some Vehicle Checks

To keep safe on the road during winter, you want to make sure that your car is performing at its optimum.

First, get those lights checked. One hazard of the winter months is that the days are shorter, meaning less daylight- especially during your commute. Check the bulbs to make sure that they offer the best illumination that they can.

Second, maintain the battery. It’s harder for batteries to operate in colder weather. Weak batteries during warmer months could become dead batteries in the cooler months. If necessary, get a new battery so you don’t have to worry about being stranded with a flat battery! If you’ve got a plug-in hybrid or a full electric, be prepared for reduced ranges.

Top up the gasoline and washer fluid. Full tanks will prevent accumulated water from freezing inside the fuel pump, allowing you to run your engine longer. Keeping your washer fluid full will help you to keep those windshields clear in the event of road debris getting caught on them after rain.

Check your tire pressure. As temperatures get cooler the tire pressure could drop with the air pressure. Driving around with low tire pressure will wear out your tires quicker and could result in a major accident. Your car will operate less predictably when the tire pressures are low, so make sure to keep them in check.

Get Your Defroster and Heater Tested

Something you should do before the winter fully hits is to check your climate control system and window defroster to make sure they are at full functionality. Both of these items are incredibly important when it comes to maintaining the comfort and safety of your vehicle during the winter. Remember, using your heater will affect the range on your electric vehicle.

Flush and Fill Antifreeze

Antifreeze is incredibly important for the function of your car as it stops it from freezing in cold weather. Before winter sets in, be sure to check that you have enough antifreeze in your car and that there are no leaks in your vehicle’s engine. Use a 1:1 ratio of antifreeze and water in your car’s radiator. This blend will result in a lower engine freezing point.