Winter loves to sneak up on us. One day you are enjoying a pumpkin spice latte in a light jacket, and the next you are chiseling ice off your windshield with a credit card because you lost your scraper. Snow looks beautiful in the movies, but it wreaks havoc on your daily commute.
Getting your vehicle ready before the first flake falls saves you from shivering on the side of the highway waiting for a tow truck. Complete these car maintenance tasks before heavy snowfall so that the only thing you need to worry about is safe travels and a warm seat.
Give Your Tires Some Love
Your tires connect you to the road. If they look bald, you will slide. It really is that simple. Swap to winter tires if you can. They stay soft in freezing temperatures and grip the ice better than all-season options.
If you stick with what you have, check the tread depth immediately. Use the penny test. Stick Lincoln’s head upside down in the groove. If you see the top of his head, you need new rubber. Don’t risk driving on racing slicks during a blizzard.
Top Off Your Fluids
Summer washer fluid turns into a blue popsicle when the temperature drops. Drain it and fill the reservoir with a winter blend that handles sub-zero temperatures. You want to see the road, not a blurry sheet of ice.
Also, check your antifreeze. Your engine needs to regulate its temperature even when the outside world is freezing. If your coolant levels look low, top them off or visit a mechanic for a flush.
Test Your Battery Strength
Cold weather drains batteries faster than a teenager drains a data plan. If your battery struggles to start the car on a mild morning, it will fail completely during a snowstorm. Most auto parts stores test them for free. Replace an old battery now so that you don’t have to beg a stranger for a jump start in a freezing parking lot.
Check Your Suspension and Alignment
Winter roads are rough. Hidden potholes and ice ruts ruin your suspension. Since road conditions affect your car’s alignment, you want to make sure everything points straight before the weather turns nasty.
A car that pulls to the left on dry pavement will pull you into a ditch on ice. Have a mechanic inspect your suspension components and steer you in the right direction.
Pack an Emergency Kit
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you get stuck. Maybe a snowplow buried your car while you were at work, or traffic stopped for hours. Keep a survival kit in the trunk. Throw these items in a bag:
- A warm blanket or sleeping bag
- Nonperishable snacks (granola bars, jerky)
- A small shovel and heavy-duty ice scraper
- Jumper cables
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- Kitty litter (for traction under spinning tires)
Nobody likes spending Saturday morning at the mechanic, but it beats freezing on the shoulder of the interstate. Take care of these car maintenance tasks now before the first heavy snowfall. You will thank yourself when everyone else is spinning their wheels. Drive safe, watch out for the other drivers, and keep that heater running.
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