How to Prep Your Car for Winter

Slick winter weather can cause hazardous driving conditions and increase the chances of accidents. While you must learn how to drive in winter conditions and learn winter emergency preparedness, your car should also be up for the challenge. One of the most critical maintenance tasks is to have the vehicle serviced and change your oil to a winter-grade, lower-viscosity oil. Doing so can keep your engine well-lubricated even as temperatures drop and reduce the risk of damage to the car’s hardware. There are also several other tasks you should complete before winter hits to make sure your car is ready. Here are expert tips on how to prep your car for winter to keep you safer during colder weather conditions.

Ensure tires are winter-ready

Well-maintained tires are essential to ensure traction and grip on wet, snowy, or icy surfaces. So it’s important to check tire depth and treads before temperatures drop. Keep close watch over air pressure and wheel alignment, too. “Make sure your tires are winter-ready, not too worn down, and are properly inflated,” advises Alex Mario, personal injury attorney at the Carter Mario Law Firm. “Bald tires will cause bad traction, and deflated or overinflated tires are more likely to tear. Both are recipes for disaster.” You can find the recommended tire pressure in your car’s user manual or inside the driver’s side door.

If you live in a place that experiences freezing winter temperatures, consider installing winter tires and making sure your donut (or spare tire) is also winter ready. The rubber compounds in non-winter tires typically harden when temperatures are consistently around or below freezing. Winter tires are engineered to resist hardening, thus providing better traction in icy or snowy pavement.

Inspect the brakes

Brakes are a key part of vehicle safety. During the winter time more than ever, you need them to react quickly to sudden stops and starts. “Make sure to get your brakes inspected around this time of year,” Mario says. “Too-thin brake pads or low brake fluid could be the difference between being able to stop a catastrophe.”

Also, check the belts, hoses, spark plugs, wires, and cables. While these could go bad any time of year, you especially don’t want to end up stranded in freezing temperatures. Remember to check your lights (signal lights, high beams, and blinkers) to ensure they are working correctly, too. Replace bulbs or fuses if necessary.

Install winter wipers and washer fluid

Snow, sleet, ice, road salt, and rain can dirty your windshield and significantly reduce visibility.

For icy areas, swap regular wipers for heavy-duty winter-specific ones equipped with a rubber that keeps ice from collecting on the blades. Remember to replace the washer reservoir with winter-grade washer fluid that resists freezing. A single snowstorm can exhaust the reservoir, so refill it frequently to avoid running out in the middle of a storm. If you’re unsure if the washer liquid is the right formula for low temperatures, add anti-freeze to the reservoir.

“Check your windshield for any cracks and address them before the weather gets cold,” adds Jeramy Sibley, president of Glass Doctor, a Neighborly company. “Exposing your vehicle to extreme temperatures can cause the crack to expand quickly.” 

Test car batteries

A dead battery can also be a nightmare in the wintertime. “Cold weather can cause batteries to drain,” says Mario. “Testing your battery at the start of the winter season can give you some peace of mind and avoid conking out on the side of the road.” The risk of your car breaking down during winter increases if the battery already has problems. A battery at or above 600 cold cranking amp (CCA) is ideal for optimal winter performance.

Corrosion build-up on battery posts and terminals can result in hard starting problems in cold weather, preventing your charging systems from recharging the battery. Ensuring your battery terminals are cleaned properly is another vital task in preparing your car for winter. Reduce future corrosion by applying a battery terminal protectant spray.

Check the cooling system

Coolant is a mixture of water and anti-freeze that pumps around your engine to cool it down. You need an appropriate coolant-to-water ratio to guard against corrosion and potential freezing. Consult a technician or mechanic to confirm your car’s specific needs ahead of winter.

Keep the gas tank at least half full

Cars tend to use more fuel in both heavy traffic conditions and while heaters are running inside the car. Thus, a full tank will ensure you don’t run out before arriving at your destination. A full tank also reduces condensation, preventing gas line freeze-ups. If you are stranded in the winter, you can keep the engine running to keep warm until help arrives.

If you’re using an electric or hybrid vehicle, remember to map out unfamiliar routes so you always know where you can recharge.

Inspect the weatherstripping

“Repair or replace [the weatherstripping] to help keep heat in and cold air out,” Sibley says. You can lubricate window tracks to prevent freezing water from seeping in and creating drag. Wiping silicon lube onto your door, locks, and latches can help keep freezing air from getting inside the car.

Pack a winter safety kit

Emergencies happen, so it’s always smart to keep your car stocked with a number of items that will help you deal with a car breakdown or accident in the middle of winter. Sibley suggests stocking your car with an ice scraper, snow brush, shovel, road flares, flashlight, first aid kit, jumper cables, and spare gas.

Mario also suggests keeping food, water, and extra warm clothing in the car. For traction, keep sand bags or kitty litter in the trunk to get out of a bad winter weather situation.