So, imagine this: you are driving in sleet and heavy snowstorm, but you do not mind because your car’s heater is on, and you are listening to your favorite music and feeling pretty safe within the enclosure of your car. Next thing you know, your car stalls, and after a few sputters dies.
What do you do? Remember it is snowing like there’s no tomorrow, and there’s no signal on your cell phone. Crazy, right? What you just read happens to a considerable number of people every single year during winter, and sometimes results in accidents and deaths.
The sad thing about this is that they could have been prevented if the driver or car owner took just a few hours or a day to get their vehicle in tip top shape for the winter. Don’t risk injury or even your life just because you did not do what you ought to do. Do the smart thing and take the necessary precautions. The following tips should help you do that.
Check Your Battery
Winters are usually pretty tough on batteries. So, check your batteries and see if they need to be replaced. If there’s no need for replacement, make sure that your car battery and its charging system are functioning optimally. This is of particular importance because your car will not go anywhere without its battery.
Apply New Antifreeze
You should eliminate the old antifreeze and put a new one into your car’s antifreeze system. This will ensure that your car keeps running in below zero temps. Just as cars can be vulnerable to hot temperatures, they can be equally susceptible to cold, frigid weather too. The antifreeze keeps the water in the radiator flowing which in turn helps keep the engine cool.
If the antifreeze runs out or becomes ineffective, the water can turn to ice, leaving your engine to overheat. The result of that is unpleasant. So, as you can see, having antifreeze during the winter is non-negotiable.
Always Have a Near-Full Tank of Gas
During the summer, you can run on half or even a quarter of a tank of gas. There’s no real risk of getting stuck in the middle of nowhere without being able to get help. However, in the winter, you do not ever want to be trapped in the middle of nowhere without any gas in your tank.
With a full tank of gas, you can at least stay warm for a long time until hopefully, you get some help. Without that, it could result in a possible loss of life. So, no matter what happens, please make sure that you always have that.
Check Your Tires
By tires, we mean the treads and the pressure. If the treads are thinning, it is time to buy a new set of tires. If you live in an area that sees just moderate snowfall every year and there’s no threat of above average snowfall this year, use your normal tires but check them weekly during the winter. If you live in areas with high snow volume though, you want to make sure that you have special tires with extra grip that will help you drive on slick roads.
Some people recommend getting all-season tires. We recommend getting special winter tires. Granted they cost a bit and could be inconvenient, but the alternative – skidding off the road downhill on a snowy day – is worse.
Have the Brake Checked
As we approach winter, it is time to give your brake pad the once-over again. If you’ve been meaning to change or feel it is not functioning as well as it used to, chances are that you are right. This automatically means changing the brake pads completely. Driving in the snow can be very dangerous, and not having working brakes will further impact you and other road users negatively.
Oscar King does everything he can to keep his car operational regardless of the time of year, thus ensuring he will never be stuck out in the cold. For help with his yearly winterizing, he turns to the experts at Linear Automotive. You can learn more about Oscar on Google+.