Winter is the best time of the year for a lot of reasons such as Christmas and New Year.
But, it is undoubtedly, the worst time for car maintenance.
If you own a car and live in cities such as Doylestown, PA where it snows, then you know what it’s like to experience winter car problems like a frozen engine.
The experts at A&G Customs have compiled a list of things you need to do during winter.
9 Winter Car Care Tips by the Experts at A&G Customs
1. Winter Tires and Frequent Checks
The most obvious and important step in prepping your car for the winter is ensuring your car has been installed with winter tires.
Having winter tires can make all the difference in your driving performance and will keep you safe on those icy roads.Thus, selecting the right car tires is one of the most important aspects of car care, which most people may end up ignoring.
Throughout these winter months, you'll want to take good care of your car and conduct frequent checks on your tires as they need to be well inflated with good treads.
2. Wash Your Car in Winter
It's no surprise that winter comes with snow, slush and ice, and thus salted roads.
You may think that it is not important to wash your car during the winter months, however, this is an important part of tending to your car in the winters.
It's best to plan ahead and get a good wash and wax before the build up begins.
This will prevent rust from occurring, but not without continued care.
Be sure to frequently monitor the area around your tires and front grille of your car for any build up and give your car a good clean if the build up becomes too much.
This will help keep your car in a great condition.
3. Check Your Car's Oil
In order for your car to perform well during the winter season, you'll want to make sure you check your oil to ensure that the level isn't too low and has proper consistency as well.
To be on the safe side, your vehicle's owner's manual will come handy at confirming the recommended oil type for optimal functioning of your car.
4. Check Your Windshield Wipers
This maintenance tip is one of the most important when it comes to your safety.
There's nothing worse than dealing with an icy day when visibility is already poor and you're using windshield wiper fluid that doesn't perform well in low temperatures.
You'll want to make sure that you've checked that your windshield wipers are in good working condition.
Also, fill them with windshield wiper fluid that is meant to be used in the colder temperatures with de-icing capabilities.
5. Check Your Heaters
When it’s cold outside, it’s a blessing to feel warm and cozy inside your car by turning on the heater.
Thus checking your heaters is essential, however, it might be impossible to do so in the chilly weather.
Thus, before the cold months kick in, it is always advisable to get your heaters checked to ensure they are working just fine.
Since this also includes the defrosting mechanism on your windshield, you'll want to check this in advance so that you have a clear and safe view of the road.
6. Check Your Radiator
If your radiator isn't filled to the right level with good antifreeze, then the liquid could freeze or create a build up, which could cause a leak or even cause the transmission to fail.
You could stay safe by checking the radiator and antifreeze before the winter months by bringing your car into A&G Customs for winter maintenance and having any issues fixed.
7. Starting Your Car
A common myth among fellow drivers is that you need to start your car well in advance to ‘warm up the engine’ before driving.
So, how long do you need to warm up your car in the winter?
The answer is simple, not much.
The engine will warm up quicker as you drive your car around.
If you are not an everyday driver, you'll want to make sure that you at least start your car once a week.
This will ensure that the fluids in the car are moving around and will keep your car in a good working condition for the warmer months.
8. Keep an Emergency Kit in Your Vehicle
Roads are unpredictable at times, you never what may happen at the next turn.
We hope this doesn't happen to you, however, recommend you to keep an emergency kit at hand so that in case you or anyone else on the road ends up in the unfortunate situation, you could help right away.
7 Things to Include in Your Emergency Winter Car Care Kit
- Blanket
- Flashlight
- Non-perishable food items
- Water
- Jumper cables
- Shovel
- Sand or salt
If you’re heading for a long winter drive, it is wiser to have your cell phone charged in advance.
9. Keep Your Car Battery Charged
Besides keeping your phone’s battery charged, another important step is to check your vehicle's battery.
Ensure your car’s battery is fully charged and in a good condition.
Your battery may not be the strongest and you may not realize it until it's too late and you're stuck in the middle of nowhere.
This is when you’ll have to look for a towing service or repair shop. And we know that, finding a trusted auto repair shop near you can be a tough job at times.
Thus, take precautions and be prepared way in advance by ensuring you frequently check and keep your car’s battery charged during the winter months.
Winter Car Maintenance at Auto Repair Shop in Doylestown
We want to ensure that your mind is at ease every time you hit the road, especially this winter.
Thus, we’re happy to help you with the maintenance your car requires in the cold winters
From installation of winter tires to a full-blown winter vehicle maintenance, A&G Customs Auto Repair Shop in Doylestown is here to get your car winter-ready!
Call us today!