When the weather report reads a high of 12°F with some snow showers, you know you need to bundle up before heading outside. You know exactly how to keep yourself warm in these unbearable temps. You adjust your thermostat, you wear a few extra layers and maybe you even make some hot meals. How about your vehicle? Have you ever thought about what's happening to your car in the freezing cold? What about all the fluids, internal mechanics or the battery?
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Most of our cars live outdoors. If they are lucky, they grab a space in our garages. Either, way, they are exposed to cold temperatures throughout the winter months. Even though we are about half way through the season, it never hurts to brush up on safer winter driving! Here are just a few basic precautions to keep in mind while maintaining your car in the cold:
Clear off your windshield! Try your best to make sure your car is cleared of snow when possible. Leftover snow on the roof of your car can be unsafe to you AND other drivers on the road. Driving with a snow covered windshield or mirror is EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS and can cause an unwanted accident or even collision. Make sure to keep an ICE SCRAPER and/or DE-ICER SPRAY in your vehicle during the winter. Check the condition of your wiper blades and well as your window washer reservoirs. What kind of washer fluid do you use? Does it have an no-freeze component?
Be seen! Make sure to keep your headlights on in snow or sleet or any kind of other weather that alters visibility so other drivers can see you. Minimize the use of high beams or brights, particularly in heavy snow.
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Have your battery checked! Even though it's the middle of winter, it's NEVER too late. At a temperature of 32°F, your car battery can be up to 35% weaker...at 0°F, your battery could potentially be 60% weaker! Have a certified automotive technician test your battery's strength. This way, you will know if your battery can continue to start your car in the cold. DON'T WAIT, if you are suspicious, you don't want to get caught stranded in the cold due to a dead battery!
Brakes! A thin layer of ice is all it takes for some tires to slip. Keep in mind that you need twice the distance to stop a car on ice than you do on dry pavement.
Consider your tires! In regions that see snow and ice every year, research and check out your options for appropriate tires. Do you need snow tires to get safely out of your driveway? Are all-season tires going to cut it all winter? Also remember to periodically check tire pressure. The sudden drop in temperature can cause some of the air to escape. The appropriate pressure for your tires should be on a sticker on the bottom on the driver side door OR in your glove box.
Keep your distance! In the winter months, try to double the distance that you typically follow the car in front of you. This will allow you more time to brake and will eliminate the need for sudden braking, which can lead to skidding.
Keep your wheels clean! In inclement weather, the roads pile up with salty slush that inevitably sticks to the under carriage of your car. Getting a car wash periodically throughout the winter helps reduce the amount of build up that can potentially wear away at your car's enamel and paint. Try to wash your cars on days that are warmer than 32°F.
And..most importantly...with your clean windshield and newly checked battery... GO SLOW. Speeding on icy roads in inclement weather conditions is not worth the risk!
If you haven't visited this website already, check out the Winter Driving Academy from Michelin! Follow the characters through quick tutorials. So get started! Click here --> Winter Driving Academy
Sources for post: Cold Weather Car Care Tips from the Auto Club
