How to Prepare Your Car for Winter Driving

Preparing your car for winter driving is essential to avoiding accidents and damage to the components. Whether you live in the winter wonderland of Colorado or the mild winters of Georgia, your car must be prepped for the change in temperature. With the winter approaching quickly it’s time to ensure that you will not be driving without the proper precautions. A lot of car accidents occur in the winter and the last thing you want is an increase in auto insurance. Use these tips to prepare for winter driving and avoid costly repairs.

The antifreeze in your car is very important for winter driving. When the temperature changes you run the risk of damage to your car. Unless you are living in extremely cold conditions, the standard for antifreeze mixtures is 50/50 antifreeze to distilled water. Open your car hood and look at the antifreeze container to make sure that it is filled to the “fill” line. If it is not, make sure that you get some to fill it up. This will help you avoid a very expensive repair throughout the winter months.

While it is recommended to get an oil change every 3,000 miles, it’s especially important to have an oil change before the winter months hit. Having a clean, high quality oil running your engine will not only protect it during a cold start, it can also help with gas mileage. Check with your local service shops for great deals on oil changes. Some will run a special for their customers at the beginning of the winter and you might even get some freebies like fluid fill-ups out of it.

Your car’s lights are extremely important during the winter. With snow, sleet and freezing rain hitting the streets, driving in the early morning and at night can be dangerous. Turn on all of the lights and get out of the car to inspect them. If you have a light out, go to your local auto parts store and have it replaced immediately. While headlights are important, brake lights cause the most accidents during the winter. People do not see the car in front of them and when they go to stop it’s too late.

Have you ever tried to drive on snow, ice or sleet? It’s not very easy. Before the winter hits it is very important to check the tire tread on your car’s tires. The tire tread can be very helpful in extreme weather. If you have good tread, check the tire pressure. Tire pressure is the number one cause of tires going bad except for a bad alignment. If you haven’t had an alignment in a while, get one soon.

Your car is made up of a lot of different components, but the belts and hoses are very important. The thing about these parts is that they are usually very inexpensive to replace. Check your belts and your hoses before you start to drive in the winter to ensure your safety.

Charles Dovbish is a freelance writer that specializes in car care and auto insurance.

Image Credit: Antifreeze Oil Change Car Lights Tire Tread Car Belts