7 Winter Car Care Tips: How To Winterproof Your Car

Winter is here! As with every season, winter is here! The winters bring new challenges and factors that can affect your car. We will discuss these issues today and show you how to prepare your car to handle the cold. Let’s get started with our essential winter car care tips that will help you prepare your car for winter.

Winter Car Care Tips

Preparatory Check-Up

This tip is probably the most simple and basic on our list. It is a good idea to take your vehicle to the authorized service center for a checkup before the seasons change. This tip may not apply to winters but could prove very beneficial in areas with severe winters. Extreme weather conditions can make cars more susceptible to failure. A basic checkup can be done to ensure that the core components are working properly. This will help prevent potential mishaps.

Visit your service center before peak winter begins.

Warming up your car

We’ll start with the easiest tip and move on to the most important tip in our winter car care tips. It is important to warm up your car before you move during winter. According to many articles, the need to warm up your vehicle before you move is not a necessity. Although it is true that mechanical parts inside of cars have improved to a great degree and are no longer susceptible to the same problems as older cars, Warming up your car before you move is still a good idea.

Warming up your car will ensure that the engine oil covers all corners and edges of the engine. Once you move your car, make sure that the engine is fully lubricated. This reduces engine wear. Winters will cause engine oil to thicken. It will take longer for the oil to flow freely to all engine parts. It is best to allow your car to idle for at least 3-5 minutes before you start driving. This winter driving tip will ensure your car runs at its best.

You should wait at least 3-5 mins after you start your car in the morning to move.

Battery Health

It is well-known that summer heat is the biggest enemy of your car’s battery. While winter doesn’t cause temperature-related damage to your car battery, it can have a significant impact on its performance. The winter months can bring about battery death if the car’s battery is near or below its maximum charge. The battery contains distilled water, which is essential for the chemical reactions inside. The cells can be permanently damaged if the distilled water freezes during the chemical reaction. Incorrect functioning of electrical systems is the first sign of battery damage. Battery problems are characterized by startup, audio, cabin, and light functions issues. Loose connections or terminals can also cause these problems. It is best to have a qualified mechanic examine these issues.

Tire Pressure

Tyre pressure is one of our most important tips for cold-weather cars. Air operates in a simple physical way that is universally applicable. Air expands when it gets hotter and contracts when it cools. These effects can be seen in the tire pressure. The tire pressure inside your car will increase in hotter months while decreasing in colder months. It is recommended that you check your tire pressure more often than usual. Low tire pressure can have a significant impact on your driving ability. Always drive at the right pressure.

Foglamps and headlights

Fog is another factor that should be considered when winter car care tips are given. Fog is a very common phenomenon in India. However, it is more common in the Northern regions. Visibility is the main effect of fog on driving. You must make sure that your lighting systems are in top condition. Foglamps are more important than the car’s headlamps in helping to see through the fog. Most cars now have front fog lamps, and rear fog lamps are becoming more common. If your car has no fog lamps or is older, you can opt for aftermarket lamps.

The Windshield

We don’t have to tell you that the windshield is one of your most important parts. During colder months, fog, smoke, and mist can build up on your windshield. This can directly affect your visibility, making driving in such a situation dangerous. Fog is caused by a temperature difference in the car’s outer and inner environments. Fog can be eliminated by changing the temperature and minimizing the temperature difference that causes it. A dehumidifier can be placed inside the cabin to prevent fogging.

Antifreeze/Coolant Level

Now, we come to the final point of our winter car care tips. Most people are familiar with a coolant liquid that is green in color. It is used to cool your engine and keep it from overheating in summer. It also plays an important role in winter, though this is not something many people know. This coolant liquid also functions as antifreeze in winter. The coolant liquid’s chemicals keep the engine from freezing and jamming when temperatures drop. This fluid is essentially a constant temperature regulator that keeps the engine’s temperature at the right level. You must ensure that the antifreeze level is adequate and at the correct levels, even during winter.