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Driving in the summer and the winter presents very different challenges. You will discover that driving in the winter is far more taxing than in the summer. Nobody wants to get stuck in an uncomfortable scenario when travelling in the cold. To prevent this from happening, it is your responsibility as a driver to get your car ready for the winter.

We have attempted to provide you with a list of five simple how to winterize your car actions in this article that you may use. When you begin getting prepared for winter, this article will highlight several fascinating details that you should be aware of about how to winterize your car.

5 Easy Steps to Remember of How to Winterize Your Car

The five simple measures to keep in mind when how to winterize your car are as follows:

1. Tyres -
The vast majority of drivers do not think twice about tyres unless they look inflated. If you have a flat when it's chilly outside that can be problematic for you. Carefully examine the tyres and take notice of any cracks, sidewall nicks or bulges, or visible nails that could indicate they are embedded in the treads. If the tread depth is less than 3/32 inches, the tyres should be changed. All-purpose tyres are an alternative, while snow tyres can be a more appropriate choice if you inhabit in a region that receives a lot of snow. You should be mindful of tyres if you wish to protect your car from winter.

Another crucial factor to take into account in how to winterize your car is checking the tyre pressure. Most merchants and auto parts stores sell tyre pressure gauges for a reasonable price. The gas mileage and tyre wear of your car can be impacted by tyre pressure. You'll get more grip in the snow if your tyres are properly inflated. Recall that low tyre pressure can occur in cold temperatures. Verify the spare tyre's air pressure. This is frequently disregarded until you discover that it is flat when you require that spare. Examine the spare tyre hold-downs as well. The spare tyre may be rusty and challenging to get out if you have had the car for many years and have not changed it.

Before winter arrives, make sure the four-wheel drive system can be engaged and disengaged with ease to avoid any problems when it starts to snow outdoors. We strongly suggest that you read our previously posted piece on how long do car tyres last to know better.

2. Battery -
When it comes to how to winterize your car battery is a big part of the process. Put on gloves and a face cover for protection before testing the battery for your safety. You need to exercise extra caution if you are working on a car battery. It may be time to replace your battery if it is more than three years old. It is commonly recognized that cold weather drastically reduces any vehicle's battery's amp-hour capacity. This has an especially negative impact on older batteries in the cold. Examine the hold-down box, the battery posts, and the battery cables visually. After removing any corrosion, you should fill it with distilled water. Numerous car workshops will check batteries at no cost to you. You should read our blog on Sunshine Roadworthy to have a better understanding of this. In summary, you should be cautious about the following tips for winterizing your car battery for the winter months.

• The date of manufacture

You can use this date to determine when the charge on your battery will run out. A car battery typically lasts between five and seven years.

• The cables

Check the cable for any tears or cracks and determine whether the connectors are loose.

• Charge

Make certain that you turn off the engine beforehand using a hydrometer to monitor the charge on your battery.

3. Antifreeze -
If you are wondering how to prepare your car for the winter, then you should know that checking antifreeze is a big part of it. To check your antifreeze, buy a cheap tester. Testers apply to both hot and cold coolant. On a hot engine, never remove the radiator cap Your engine's protected temperature can be found by inserting the little tester tube into the coolant through the radiator cap and loading the tester with coolant. Utilize this information to make coolant adjustments. The majority of antifreeze solutions that are bought in retail establishments are roughly half coolant and half water for the best freezing prevention. It is important to confirm that both your overflow tank and radiator are filled when how to winterize your car.

4. Fluid-
Examining the levels of all the fluids under your car, including the oil, brake, transmission, wiper, power steering, and battery is crucial when preparing for how to winterize your car. You may get instructions on checking these parameters correctly from the majority of automobile manufacturers' web pages as well as in your owner's handbook. To avoid ice building up on your windshield and the wiper fluid freezing in the plastic tank, get a winter concentration with a temperature rating of -20 degrees Fahrenheit.

5. Oil-
​​​​​​​Because oil thickens in colder temperatures, your car needs a thinner weight of oil. With this thinner oil, a cold engine can be lubricated more quickly and may even be spared engine damage. Specifications for oil viscosity should be included in your owner's handbook. In most areas, oil changes are not extremely expensive. You should change your oil, but you should also check to see if the oil is the proper weight or viscosity.

Additional tips...

1. Lights-
​​​​​​​Whenever you are concerned about how to winterize your car, turn on the lights and take a stroll around it. Double-check that all of your lights—including the emergency flashers and turn signals—are operational.

2. Belts and hoses-
​​​​​​​Allocate some time to examine all of your hoses and belts. Get it changed right away if you see any worn areas that are fraying, gleaming, or bulging, or if the hoses seem excessively squishy or fragile.

3. Wipers-
​​​​​​​Regularly inspect your wiper blades. They are bound to get worn out if you use them to get rid of ice, snow, and mud.

4. Gas-
​​​​​​​In the winter, it is more crucial to keep gas in the tank than in the summer. By reducing condensation, a full tank keeps the gas line from icing.

5. Emergency kit-
​​​​​​​You should store an emergency kit in your car which you can find useful if you ever get stranded during winter. The kit must have a first aid kit, flashlight and batteries, jumper cables, extra antifreeze, ice scraper, some energy bars, a phone charger, blankets, and water.

6. Carbon Monoxide poisoning-
​​​​​​​Drive your car for short distances at a time. Rather, leave it on for as long as necessary to be warm before turning it off once more to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

7. Dome lights-
​​​​​​​Turn on your dome lights to get notice from others to help you out. 

8. Inspection-
​​​​​​​In the summer, it's easy to overlook problems like worn tires, strange engine noise, and faulty taillights. However, cold weather has a habit of making even small car issues worse. Get a thorough inspection of your car from a reputable auto shop before the seasonal low falls below fifty degrees regularly.

Useful suggestions:

Brakes-
​​​​​​​After a few minutes of driving, the grinding and screaming noises come to an end because the heat produced by the automobile brakes melts ice and snow. However, the brake system of your car may suffer a great deal from the frequent freezing and thawing cycle. While road salt is usually beneficial for driving during the winter, it can also hasten the deterioration of your vehicle's brake system. Schedule an inspection with a trusted company to know about your car’s brake condition. You find our already-posted article on car brake maintenance very useful in this regard.

Electric blanket-
​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​To keep your car warm in the winter, You can use an electric blanket. Cover the engine with an electric blanket that you have plugged into a garage outlet. Over the blanket, cover the hood to prevent heat loss. The heat generated keeps the engine from being overly cold.

We are optimistic that after reading this article on how to winterize your car, you will be better prepared for the colder months. Before winter shows up, you can follow these simple procedures that we have written above.