Are you and your car ready for driving this winter? For the driver, getting ready might just mean bundling up, steeling yourself against the cold and braving the elements. For cars, though, getting ready to handle the roads safely is a little bit more involved. Here’s a 10-step checklist to make your vehicle winter ready for 2021.
Protect your body work against the harsh abuse that will be thrown at it by salt, sand, snow and ice over the next few months. One of the best ways to do that is by cleaning the exterior thoroughly (yourself or at a carwash) and applying a thorough coat of car wax to exterior surfaces.
Consider changing your oil. You should always change your oil on schedule, which is usually every three months and every 4,000 kilometers or so. As winter is approaching, consider having your oil changed even if you haven’t quite hit those marks yet. As your mechanic or the staff at your Calgary car dealer if they recommend switching to a full-synthetic or synthetic blend with the colder temperatures coming. And of course you can change your own oil. Changing it on time is more important than who changes it.
Have your battery tested. You think about your battery a lot in the winter, but the summer months are actually really tough on them and sometimes weaken them in advance of when you’ll need them most. Before you’re at any risk of a no-start, have your battery and charging system tested.
Make sure you can see. If you’re a DIYer, here’s a few more simple items to add to your checklist. With just a few tools and some patience, you’ll be able to check and replace any headlights and tail lights, clean your lenses, and to replace your windshield wipers (and fluid while you’re at it). If you’d rather not do it yourself, the garage where you get your oil changed before the mercury really drops can take care of all these things, too.
Put your winter boots on. If your winter tires are in storage, now is the time to get them out of there and onto your car. Have the garage staff confirm you’ve got plenty of tread for the season, and that all your tires are at the right pressure for optimal traction.
Check your antifreeze. Antifreeze does what it sounds like it does. It prevents the water in your engine’s cooling system from freezing no matter how cold the temperatures get. If testing the strength of your antifreeze is beyond your confidence level, have it checked when you get your oil or tires changed.
Clean your fuel injectors. This is one of the easiest items on our list. To minimize hard starts and rough idling this winter, buy a small bottle of fuel injector cleaner. Next time you fill up your gas tank, simply empty the container into your tank first. By the way, try never to let your fuel level fall below ¼ tank this winter.
Do you drive a diesel? Diesel fuels act a bit differently in the winter than mainline gasoline and tend to “gel up.” Ask your mechanic or Calgary car dealer to recommend a fuel additive to deal with that and, at the same time, have them check your diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) levels even if you haven’t received a warning that they may be low.
Stock up on some de-icer. For just a few dollars and the sake of some space in a pocket, purse or backpack you can make sure to be able to get into your car all winter. Purchase lock de-icer to thaw and lubricate your door locks, trunk lock and even your hood latch.
Take a close look at your radiator cap. That cap makes sure your antifreeze and coolants stay in your system rather than all over the ground under your car. It also maintains the pressure in your cooling system so your car won’t overheat. If there’s any indication that fluid has leaked out around your radiator cap, go to a Calgary used cars dealer and ask them to replace it. Or go to an auto parts store and pick one up yourself. It’ll only cost a few dollars and will be good insurance against any problems. If inspecting your radiator cap isn’t something you feel comfortable with, don’t skip this step. Delegate it to your mechanic or the staff at the oil change place.
Getting your car ready for winter driving is as simple as that. In a perfect world, you’ll accomplish all the things on this checklist before setting out. Even if it’s just a few of the tasks, though, you’ll be safer for it. If you can only do one thing, focus on your tires. Drive safe.