7 Things You Need to Know About Caring for Your Car This Winter

Before you know it, winter weather will be on the way.

That means there are some extra car-care tasks that you’ll need to keep at the top of your list when the snow flies.

Here’s what you need to know.

1. Your lights are more important than ever.

It gets dark earlier, which means you’ll spend more time driving in the dark during the winter months.

It’s vital that you check all of your lights – interior and exterior – before the days start getting shorter.

Foggy or yellow lights should be replaced.

During the winter, you should also make sure that none of your exterior lights are covered by snow.

Since it’s more difficult for your battery to perform well in the winter, a battery that’s weak in the summer could fail totally in the cold.

Your best bet is to have a volt test done on your battery now before the weather gets too cold.

Being stranded in the cold is never a good option!

Antifreeze is the vital coolant that keeps your engine from getting so cold that it freezes.

It’s important that you get your vehicle’s coolant level checked before it gets cold. Your mechanic will also make sure there aren’t any leaks.

Your tire pressure can drop right along with the temperature.

There are a lot of issues that can come up as a result of low tire pressure, including:

You could also consider putting winter tires on your vehicle, which can provide better traction on snow and even cold pavement.

They’re small, inexpensive, and you may even forget about them until you need them.

It’s recommended that you replace your wiper blades about twice a year to keep them in optimal shape.

Don’t risk driving through flying winter slush without adequately functioning windshield wipers!

Of course they are, right?

Your defroster keeps your windows from being covered with ice and getting fogged up, which is a safety hazard.

Obviously, your heater keeps you toasty warm even on the coldest of winter days.

Both of these systems should be inspected by a professional before winter sets in.

Thicker oil makes it harder for your engine to turn over.

Your mechanic can let you know if your particular vehicle needs a different type of oil for the cold weather.

Your almost-winter oil change should include a new filter to keep the oil flowing as freely and smoothly as possible.

Now’s the perfect time to take your vehicle in for a “check-up” with a trusted mechanic.

You want to take care of any issues before the weather gets too cold.