Cars, like the people who drive them, need a little extra attention when gearing up for winter. The weather patterns your vehicle is exposed to have a definite affect on its life span and function. Weather that regularly drops below zero on the Fahrenheit scale may even require special vehicular modifications, such as adding a plug to keep the engine block from freezing, and fluids that will remain fluid regardless of how cold it gets at night.
For winter conditions that remain in the 0* to 30* range, it’s a good idea to take your car in for a general tune up when temperatures start to drop. Make sure the mechanics check your car radiator’s antifreeze. It should be a 50/50 mixture of water and antifreeze. Replace or refill the wiper-fluid, and put new blades on your windshield wipers. Make sure the windshield defroster is in good working order as well.
It’s a good idea to check your battery for corrosion at this time of year. The thin layer of white powder that builds up can keep your car from starting, and on a cold morning, you want the heater to come on quickly! Check your tire pressure. Tires have a tendency to deflate a bit in colder weather, and under-filled tires are dangerous. While you’re at it, look at the tread on the tires as well. The raised bumps that give you traction on the road need to be around 1/8 of an inch deep at a minimum for safe winter driving. Any tire with treads that stick out less than 1/16th of an inch is illegal for safety reasons.
If you live in an area with lots of snow and/or ice, there are some additional safety measures you should consider taking:
- Keep a window-scraper with a long handle in the car to help clear your windshield.
- Make sure you open the garage door, and close the door to the house, before turning on the engine. Carbon Monoxide is poisonous.
- Make sure the headlights AND TAIL LIGHTS are in good working order, and use them, even in daylight.
- Consider filling or purchasing a heavy-duty 40-lb bag or lidded bucket of construction sand. Keep it in the trunk to add weight to your back tires. If you get stuck on a patch of ice, the sand can also be used to provide traction under your tires.
- Keep a pair of lined leather gloves in the car. They keep your fingers warm while allowing you to firmly grip the steering wheel.
- Keep chains for your tires in the vehicle as well. Some roadways require drivers to carry chains, even if the vehicle already has snow tires. Some passes require drivers to put the chains on. Make sure the chains you own actually fit your tires and vehicle– and that you know how to install them by yourself. The easy-on chains cost 2 to 3 times as much as regular tires, but the speed and ease of using them may make them a valuable investment.
- Remember to give yourself twice the room between vehicles in stormy or icy conditions. Slush is just as dangerous as ice– it can cause a car to slide out of control if the breaks are applied too suddenly. Break softly. Accelerate slowly. Turn softly, too, giving yourself time and space to turn the wheel smoothly. Jerking the steering wheel means jerking the tires.
- Leave room between stopped vehicles at intersections and lights. If the driver behind you is unused to driving in winter conditions, you may need to pull forward a few feet if they need more room to stop.
- Consider purchasing special winter tires. If winter lasts more than a few weeks where you live, they may be worth the investment. It will also cost to have the tires installed when the weather gets below freezing, and removed toward the end of the snow season. Driving studded tires on dry or rain-wet pavement rips up the pavement and dulls down the studs, so drivers in many parts of the country needn’t bother.
Whatever else you do, remember to slow down, turn on your headlights, and stay alert. If you hit a patch of ice unexpectedly, some experts recommend that you take your foot off the gas, and steer in the direction the car is moving until the tires re-engage. This keeps you from flipping or jackknifing the car if the tires and engine push it in the opposite direction of it’s momentum. Depress the break pedal slowly and gently until you know how your vehicle will respond. If you need to back out of a snowy parking spot, accelerate VERY SLOWLY. Gunning the gas only digs a spinning tire deeper into it’s slick-sided hollow. Slow and steady wins the winter race.
