Before hitting the winter roads, you should create a checklist to ensure safe driving. Listed below are some preparations to make your winter driving is safe and to keep your vehicle in good condition.
Check Your Car Battery
During winter driving, one must acknowledge that lights, heaters, and wipers can easily drain a car battery. Batteries will usually run out of energy around five years. It is best to replace them earlier, so you do not end up having to deal with them during a cold winter. If you can, do not run the heater fan so high. Having multiple electric components on when starting your vehicle should also be avoided to save battery life. If your engine fails to start quickly, do not attempt to start it without at least waiting thirty seconds in between. This will give the battery and starter time to recover.
Check Antifreeze Levels
When driving in cold conditions, it is important to make sure that you have 50/50 antifreeze in your radiator. The benefits of antifreeze are to protect the cooling system from freezing, thus, causing engine damage. Make sure to get the proper antifreeze for your vehicle. This can prevent the need for costly repairs down the road. If you hear your fan belt squealing, this may be a sign that your water pump is frozen. You will need to allow it to thaw out before driving again. Often, the radiator will freeze in cold weather conditions. A sign that this has occurred is the car will overheat because the antifreeze is not able to circulate in the radiator. Once again, you will need to thaw it out before getting back on the road.
Check Visibility and Tires
Make sure your windows are clear of snow, dirt, and grime. Use an ice scraper to remove ice from your windshield. If your windows are not clear, this can pose an incredible threat to your safety. Remove snow from the top your roof as well. This snow can fall onto your windshield preventing you from seeing and, in some situations, cause accidents. Make sure to that your headlights are in working condition, aimed correctly, and are free of snow and dirt. In addition, you will want to make sure the depth of your tires is at least 3mm. Less than 2mm is considered dangerous for snow driving. If you can, try to purchase all-season tires.
