Winter is upon us. There’s snow on the ground and we’re finding ourselves huddled around the fireplace.  While many people take special care to prepare their homes for the winter, they often never consider that their car might also need some special preparations for the cold weather.

With relative ease, everyone can ensure that their car will be properly prepared for the winter.  You never know, proper winterization of your car might just save your life one day so it is important to take proper precautions before it is too late.

Steps to Follow When Winterizing Your Car

Step 1: In cold weather the oil in your car will actually thicken in consistency.  If the oil is too thick it will not be able to lubricate the various parts of your engine properly.  Check the owner’s manual for your vehicle and see if there is a specific oil recommendation for use during the cold weather.  You will want to have an oil change done on your vehicle to ensure that the proper type of oil is in your car which will help to protect the engine and prolong the overall life of your car.

If you oil looks like this, you’re in trouble…

Step 2: A snow storm could come at any time and you may be forced to drive through it.  Maybe you got stuck at work during the storm or you were coming back from a vacation.  To prepare for such an event you will want to make sure you have fresh wiper blades on your car so that they can clear your windshield without issue.  It is a good idea to top off your windshield wiper fluid while you are at it.  Make sure you do not use water to fill your windshield wiper reservoir because it will likely be frozen when you need to use it.  The fluid designed for your windshield freezes at a much lower temperature than water.  If by chance you have a small crack or chip in your windshield you might want to have it fixed before the winter comes.  The cold air can cause small cracks to spread rapidly and can end up costing much more to repair in the end.

If you don’t live in the UK, a snow storm can catch you out at any time

Step 3: Do a quick check of all of your vehicle’s lights.   Make sure that they are all working properly and you do not have any that are burned out.  This will provide you with maximum visibility when you are driving in poor conditions.

Check your lights so that you can see other people - and they can see you!

Step 4: Now it is time to take a good look at the battery in your car.  Double check to make sure everything looks proper and that connections to your battery are secure.  You do not want to see any corrosion on your battery and if you do it is time to think about replacing it.  If your battery is a few years old take your car to your mechanic and have them test the battery for you.  They can give you a good idea what kind of life the battery has left in it.  Nobody wants to deal with a car that will not start in the middle of a freezing cold snowstorm so replace the battery if you need to!

If your battery is rubbish, make sure it’s sorted out!

Step 5: Checking the fluids in your car’s coolant system will also be an important part of winterizing your car.  If it is just water in the coolant system you will need to add antifreeze to the system to prevent the water from freezing.  Your owner’s manual will tell you the correct ratio of antifreeze to water for your coolant system.

Keep an eye on the coolant levels. If you see a puddle - don’t go anywhere!

Step 6: Take a good look at the tires on your car.  If they are balding and worn out make sure to replace them before you have to drive in winter conditions.  If your tires are in good shape check their air pressure.  Cold air can cause the tire pressure in your car to drop.  Improper inflation of your tires means that your vehicle will not have proper traction on the road which could lead to a dangerous situation.  Make sure to keep a tire gauge on hand and continuously monitor your tire pressure.  This will be especially important if there are big temperature fluctuations during the course of the winter.  Your owner’s manual should provide you with the exact tire pressure that should be in each of your tires.

Flat tyre = terrible grip and poor handling!

Depending on the exact location where you live you may even want to have your car fitted with special tires to be used in the snow.  These can help provide your car with better traction in harsher conditions.  Just don’t forget to take them off when winter is over!

See how snow tires, would you believe, grip in the snow!
Step 7: There is nothing worse than getting caught in a snowstorm.  Okay there is one thing that is worse, getting caught in a snowstorm and then realizing your four wheel drive system is not working properly.  To avoid this frustrating situation make sure to test your four wheel drive system before it starts getting cold.  If it is a new car make sure that you also understand how to engage the four wheel drive system.

Four wheel drive is good, but not when it’s broken!
Step 8: You never know what kind of situation you might find yourself in this winter.  To prepare yourself for unseen events put an emergency kit in your trunk.  You want to make sure that you have a heavy blanket to keep you warm, some bottled water, and a few non-perishable food items.  Snow boots and extra pairs of gloves should also be included in case you need to change a tire in the middle of a snow storm.  If you do break down you will need some flares to signal distress so pack a few of these in your emergency kit as well.  Other great items to pack are flashlights, first aid kids, a radio, a car charger for your cell phone, and jumper cables.  Verify that your spare tire is properly inflated with air and that all tools needed to change the tire are present.

Make sure you have the right kit when you’re out in the snow

By following these simple steps you can ensure that your car is properly ready for the winter and that you do not end up stranded in the cold and miserable.