Preparing Your Vehicle For The Winter

Owning a vehicle comes with a great deal of responsibility

. If your vehicle is not properly maintained throughout the year, its lifespan may be shortened and your investment will be wasted. By preparing your automobile for the winter months with a winterization procedure, you can ensure that your vehicle runs smoothly throughout the cold season.

Winter Weather and Automobiles

The winter months can be especially harsh on a vehicle. Subzero temperatures can effect many of the working components of a vehicle's engine, and adverse weather conditions can make driving more hazardous. If you own your own vehicle and you want to stay safe and secure during the winter months, you must prepare for the cold temperatures and winter precipitation. One of the first things that every vehicle owner should do to prepare for the winter months is to check the tread of the tires.

Tire tread is the thick rubber striping that surrounds the outer surface of the tire. When the tire comes in contact with the surface of the road, the tread allows moisture and surface water to be dispersed so that the tire has enough traction to avoid slipping. Tires with tread that are worn down past one eighth of an inch should be replaced. If you live in areas with heavy winter precipitation including ice and snow, you may consider installing snow chains on your tires. These small chains crisscross over the surface of the tire to provide additional traction.

Checking and Replacing Fluids

One important part of the vehicle winterization process is checking and replacing the fluids in your vehicle. Obviously, the oil in your vehicle should be checked and changed on a regular basis. During the year, your oil should be changed every 3,000 miles that your vehicle is driven. However, it may be a good idea to change your oil before the weather begins to get too cold.

This will ensure that the components of your engine run smoothly and are not hampered by oil that has lost its viscosity. The antifreeze in an engine should also be checked and filled if the levels are low. Antifreeze keeps engine components from freezing and sticking together which may cause substantial damage to an engine. Antifreeze can also be used as a windshield wiper fluid additive to help with windshield de-icing.

Checking the Vehicle Heater

It doesn't matter how smoothly your engine is running. If your vehicle's heater is not functioning correctly, you most likely will not want to drive it at all during the winter months. The interior of most modern vehicles will have a climate control system that keeps the cab cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The more luxurious your vehicle, the more technologically advanced this climate control system will be.

However, most vehicles manufactured in the last 20 years include some type of heating system designed to keep the car warm in the winter. Before the winter weather hits in your neighborhood, you can take your vehicle in for a heating system check-up. It is a good idea to perform this task as a part of your vehicle winterization procedure.Taking care of this before temperatures drop below freezing will prevent you from having to drive in total discomfort during the winter months.

by: Tom Burns

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