Caring for your Car in the Cold

As the temperature gets colder, it is important to be aware of the substantial impact that these temperatures can have on your vehicle. Following the appropriate steps will often help you to reduce the likelihood of damage to your car and keep it running through the cold winter temperatures. If you are concerned about the condition of your vehicle or need damage to your vehicle repaired, our team at Ray’s Muffler is passionate about providing you with top-notch automotive services. Here are some of the ideal steps that you can take to help with caring for your car in the cold.

Check Fluid Levels

Cold temperatures can cause freezing of the fluids that help your vehicle operate. It is important to check on these fluids to ensure that they are at the appropriate levels. This is especially important when it comes to the antifreeze of your vehicle. When the antifreeze is too low, it is likely that multiple problems can impact your vehicle. Check on your antifreeze and other fluids regularly, especially when you live in an extremely cold climate. You may also want to obtain oil changes and other vehicle maintenance services to ensure that the engine is protected and operating smoothly.

Start your Vehicle Frequently

A vehicle should run somewhat regularly to keep the freezing temperatures from causing damage to the vehicle. For one thing, the battery dying is an extremely common occurrence that results from a vehicle sitting too long in cold temperatures. In addition, not operating the vehicle can allow the fluid to freeze. If you start and drive your vehicle about once a week, you can often help to prevent these issues from arising.

Keep the Vehicle Clear of Grime

It is easy for foreign particles to accumulate on your vehicle during the winter, such as snow, grime, and salt. When you allow these substances to remain on the surface of your car, they can potentially cause damage to the paint on the vehicle. It is also important to thoroughly clear snow from your car prior to driving. When you don’t remove obstacles to visibility, you will be driving in unsafe conditions. This greatly enhances the chances that you will have an accident, which can potentially cause a great deal of damage to your building. Plan for extra time to thoroughly scrape snow, ice, and frost from the surface of your windshield and windows prior to driving. It may also be helpful to use a spray bottle filled with rubbing alcohol to help the snow melt away more quickly.

Check the Battery

When temperatures get too cold, it is common for the temperatures to drain your battery. Due to this, it is useful to check on the condition of your battery before the temperatures drop too low. If the battery already has a weak charge, you may want to replace it before the winter months. You will also want to keep a record of how recently the battery was replaced, so you can determine if it is time for a new battery. It is always important to keep jumper cables in your car and this importance is just amplified in the winter months. This step can prevent you from being stranded in a cold parking lot at the end of the workday.

Inspect for Cracks

Have you ever had a miniscule crack in your windshield one day and a large crack across the surface the next day? This is extremely common in the winter. When water is able to make its way into the crack and then the water freezes, it will expand and force the crack to widen. When you repair cracks when they are very small, it will be a much easier process than dealing with larger cracks. After cracks grow to a certain proportion, you will likely have to replace the entire windshield to prevent additional damage. It is much more cost effective and efficient to regularly inspect your windshield for cracks.

Check on your Tires

The tires of your vehicle are an incredibly important component in how well your vehicle will operate in the snow. When the tires are worn down, you will likely find it is much more difficult to maintain traction while driving on a snowy road. You may want to consider having snow tires put on your car to prepare for the snow. At a minimum, you need to ensure that your tires have a decent tread that will help you to drive safely in snowy conditions.

Drive Carefully

Driving in the snow can be rather dangerous. It is always important to be aware and cautious when you are driving in the hazardous road conditions that are often a result of winter weather. Not only will this help to protect your vehicles from damage, but it will also help to keep you and your loved ones safe.

Be Careful about Tire Pressure

The cold from winter can cause fluctuations in the pressure of your vehicle’s tires. This can hide serious issues with the tires because you may assume that the drop in tire pressure is just a result of the cold. You need to be careful about the pressure of your car’s tires in the winter, so that you are driving a vehicle that is safe to operate. Regularly check the tire pressure and be careful whenever you notice any fluctuations.

Examine Windshield Wipers

Though many components of your car can last for years, it is often important to replace your windshield wipers far more frequently. It can take as little as 6 months for your windshield wipers to see wear and cease operating effectively. Check on the windshield wipers of your vehicle to determine their condition and if they need to be replaced to meet the heavy demands of winter weather.   

When you are vigilant in caring for your car in the cold, you can often prevent it from sustaining damage despite the winter temperatures. These steps can help you to keep your car in good condition this winter season. To learn more about caring for your car in the cold, contact our experienced professionals at Ray’s Muffler today!