No one wants to end up stranded on the side of the road in cold or snowy weather. That is why it is essential that you continue to care for your car as you would all year long. It can be very easy sometimes when funds are tight to let little repairs and checkups slide through the cracks, but in the end, it is you who will suffer.
Before all the snow and cold weather arrives, it is important that you take care of your vehicle. Below you will find some winter car care tips that are recommended by most insurance companies, and car manufacturers.
Tune Ups
Many car owners wait until the last possible minute to get a tune up on their car. This is never a good thing as prolonging the repair could mean more damage later on. If your car has not been to a mechanic for a tune up in a while you should immediately schedule an appointment. Tune ups are important to keeping your car running efficiently. They are also very beneficial in that mechanics can detect problems before they get major which ends up saving you money.
Tire Check Up
The roads are going to become very slippery and icy and your tires are extremely essential to ensuring that you can handle your vehicle without getting into an accident. There are two things you want to make a priority to check on your tires; the pressure and the amount of wear and tear on them.
A quick trick for checking the wear on your tires is to take a penny on its edge and place it in a tread groove. If you can see the top of the hair on the penny it is time to replace the tires. It is important that you do this in more than one location as tires rarely wear evenly. It is also a good idea to have your tires rotated and balanced. If weather is really bad where you are, snow tires might be ideal.
Check Your Fluids
You don’t want to be on the highway and the oil run out. It is important that you have all fluid levels checked in your car. This includes your oil, brake, power steering, windshield, coolants, and transmission fluids. You can easily refill these on your own if you don’t want to spend the money on a professional. Just be sure that you purchase quality products so that the fluids last and keep your car running in great condition.
Check Your Air Filters
During the warmer months it is very easy for contaminants to get into your air filters. The longer this is allowed to sit, the more likely you are to find car trouble later on. Air filters are also easy to replace on your own and are fairly inexpensive to buy. If you see a lot of debris on your filters, replacing them is a must.
The winter is by far one of the worst times of year to get stranded or to be without a car for long periods of time. By taking this advice and getting your car prepped, you are sure to have a reliable vehicle to weather any storm that comes your way.