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Freezing temperatures and snowy roads make driving in winter more challenging (and at times frustrating) than other seasons. No matter the weather, there are many maintenance tasks you need to complete to make sure your vehicle runs reliably and efficiently. However, hazardous driving conditions and sub zero temps that often accompany winter means that you have to take a few extra steps in order to winterize your vehicle.

Changes in weather can have a measurable effect on your car–it can cause fluids to thicken or freeze, rubber tubes and belts to stiffen and crack, and air pressure to go down in the tires. If your car isn’t adequately prepared, you put yourself at an increased risk of getting stranded on the side of the road, being unable to start your car on a sub-zero morning, or some other calamity.

Don’t treat winter like any other season–take these steps to winterize your vehicle and set yourself up for a successful, calamity-free winter!

Keeping your car battery alive through winter

One of the most unpleasant experiences a person can face is trying to jump a dead battery when it’s freezing outside (have you ever noticed that your battery only dies when it’s raining/snowing/freezing?). If a battery’s charge is already mostly depleted, then cold temperatures will exacerbate the situation, leading to a dead battery that might have been able to start your car in warmer weather. The freezing temperatures can also cause damage to a depleted battery, in the form of cracked walls and tubes, ultimately shortening the battery’s lifetime.

The first step toward keeping your car battery alive through winter is making sure that it’s well charged and free from corrosion (a white powdery substance that tends to build up on the battery terminals). Charging a dead battery when the connectors and cables are covered in corrosive material can be difficult or even impossible, depending on how bad the corrosion is.

Before winter sets in, check your car battery’s connectors for corrosion. You can have your battery serviced by a mechanic, or you can purchase a battery cleaning kit at an auto parts store.

Second, if you won’t be regularly driving your car this winter, then it is a good idea to get a battery charger. This way you can be sure your battery is at a full charge when you do plan on driving your car again after a stretch of inactivity. Since a poorly charged battery is more susceptible to damage from cold temperatures, a good battery charger will also lengthen the life of your battery. In fact, if you leave your car undriven for long periods of time, then a battery charger might be a good investment, considering it’s cheaper to get a charger than having to buy a new battery every winter.

Preparing your cooling system

The fluids of your car are its lifeblood. The key to lengthening the life of your vehicle is to always make sure its fluids are maintained, kept clean, changed out when necessary, and kept at optimal levels. Since cold temperatures tend to cause fluids to react in certain ways (causing them to thicken. freeze, or lose their effectiveness), you need to pay extra attention to your car’s lubricants, coolants, and other fluids during winter.

The cooling system protects your car’s various components from being damaged by the heat from the engine’s internal combustion system. Antifreeze also protects your car’s fluids during sub-freezing temperatures. However, certain types of antifreeze are designed for optimal performance in certain temperature ranges. For example, one formulation might be best for keeping your car cool during the hot winters, but it won’t be able to function all that well at temperatures down in the teens.

Once temperatures do start to drop, it’s a good idea to flush your car’s coolant and replace it with a cold-weather formula. Since your coolant should be flushed at least every two years to maintain your vehicle, doing this every winter gives you a good excuse to perform this necessary task.

Check wiper blades, consider installing special winterized blades

Wiper blades are perhaps the most underappreciated safety function of a car. Yet these unassuming flaps of rubber are crucial to safely operating your vehicle during hazardous weather conditions. Damaged wiper blades can reduce your visibility to dangerous levels, potentially setting you up for a scary wreck.

Unfortunately, many of us don’t realize we have inadequate wiper blades until a rain storm or blizzard strikes. Wiper blades are inexpensive and easy to replace, so there’s really no excuse. All you need to do is have the foresight to make sure your wiper blades are in good shape before you need them.

If you live in an area with lots of snowfall during winter, then you should also consider installing special winterized wiper blades. These will be more effective during white-out conditions than a normal pair of blades.

Switch to a windshield wiper fluid winter blend

Another fluid that is often overlooked until you need it most is your windshield wiper fluid, which helps you maintain visibility during icy winter conditions. Being short of windshield wiper fluid isn’t only annoying, it’s a safety hazard. Additionally, some blends are formulated for colder temperatures, and it’s a good idea to switch it out before the weather gets too cold.

Check your tires’ tread and air pressure

The most vital part of your car, when it comes to helping you maintain control of your car in hazardous driving conditions, is where the rubber hits the road–your tires. Before the blizzards and rainstorms come, make sure your tires have a good amount of tread left. Bald tires pose a significant threat not only to your personal safety, but to the safety of the drivers around you.

Additionally, freezing temperatures will cause the air in your tires to constrict, dropping the air pressure. When temperatures start to fall, it’s a good idea to regularly check your tires’ air pressure and adjust them accordingly.

Snow tires – do you need them?

With the proliferation of all-season tires, you might wonder if you need to go through the hassle and extra expense of installing snow tires on your car for just a few months. All season tires are designed to provide good traction (as long as they are properly inflated and have adequate tread) for a wide variety of driving conditions. It’s important to note, however, that all-season tires do not perform as well as snow tires in snowy conditions. Therefore, if you drive in a mountainous area or a place that gets a lot of snowfall, then it would be wise to have a set of snow tires installed during the winter months, even if you drive all-season tires the rest of the year.

Equip your car with an emergency kit with special items for winter conditions

Your car should always contain an emergency kit, no matter the season. Some recommended items to include in your emergency kit are:

• First aid kit
• Jumper cables
• Extra motor oilTire gauge
• Flares
• Flashlight
• Duct tape
• Ice scraper

Here’s a long list of items that the DMV recommends including in your emergency kit.

To prepare for the additional hazards of winter, make sure your emergency kit contains some extra items to guard against the cold, such as blankets, a rain poncho, and gloves. If you wind up stranded in a blizzard or broke down in winter on the side of road far from the nearest town, then these items could end up being life-saving.

Get a tuneup before the cold sets in

A tuneup usually involves getting your car’s spark plugs replaced, among other tasks depending on your specific vehicle. While your car is unlikely to need a tuneup every year (check your car’s owner’s manual for recommended intervals), if you think your car is due for a tuneup then it’s better to get it done before winter rather than waiting a few more months. Also, when your mechanic is conducting the tuneup you’ll have a good opportunity to ask about other ways to winterize your car that you might not have thought of or that weren’t included in this article.

When in doubt, ask an experienced mechanic about ways to winterize your vehicle

One of the benefits of establishing a relationship with an experienced mechanic who has serviced your car over the years is that you can get suggestions and advice tailored to your vehicle and geographic situation. No matter how knowledgeable you are about cars, there are still things you can learn from a professional auto mechanic. So swallow your pride and don’t be afraid to ask, even if you think it’s a stupid question.

Tags: How To, Tips and Tricks, winter