Hi there!
Wintering your vehicle is one of the most tried and true ways to prevent disaster when the unexpected happens.
Winter is an extremely rough season on your vehicle. Even if you don’t live in the colder areas of the country where you deal with heavy snowfall each winter, colder temperatures can have a serious impact on your vehicle.
Which is why I’m here today.
In this article, I am going to give you some simple safety tips on how to properly winterize your vehicle to keep you and your family safe this winter.
Normally, you want to try and winterize your vehicle before winter even begins, but it’s never too late to put these safety measures into action before the unexpected happens.
Without further ado, Let’s jump into the article!
For more information on winterizing your vehicle, please check out popular mechanics. Here is a helpful link for you to reference.
Safety Tips for Winterizing your Vehicle
If I could give you any helpful advice on vehicle winterization, then this would be it.
Worn tires are going to be your worst enemy in the winter months.
Why?
They increase your stopping distance and decrease the stability when the roads are wet. Most states have certain requirements on the minimum tread depth standard, but for me, going with the minimum tread isn’t the way to go. Let me explain:
Independent testing through the years have proven that tire traction decreases dramatically once your tires wear beyond 4/32-in. Most states have a 2/32-in minimum which is very dangerous no matter what the weather is going to bring.
Tread Wear Indicators
Tread wear indicators are going to be spaced evenly through the main grooves in the tire tread. If they are flush with the level of the tread, then the tire should be replaced.
In fact, some winter tire models are going to be equipped with winter tire indicators. If they are flush with the level of tread, then these tires will not pass the winter driving test for you and your family. It’s time to get them replaced asap.
Pay Attention to Your Battery Throughout the Year
Batteries absolutely hate cold weather. Engines have a very difficult time starting in cold weather.
You must ask yourself this question, did you have any issues with your battery over the summer months?
If so, it’s time to get your battery checked out.
Chemical reactions within the battery make electricity slow down as the temperature drops, thus making this difficult to produce the power its capable of doing.
The ideal outside temperature for battery optimization is going to be around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. So, keep this in mind if you aren’t lucky enough to live where its warm throughout the year.
Check Your Brakes
Snow, ice, and wet roads test our brakes every year. With that being said, why do most people overlook this simple safety measure?
It’s because these get taken for granted to put in the simplest form. When it comes to the most important safety mechanism on your vehicle, letting problems go until that system no longer functions properly is a recipe for disaster.
Here are some warning signs to keep in mind when we are talking about our brakes.
- Spongy brake pedals– A soft, spongy feel in the brake pedal is a sure sign of a problem in the hydraulic system. Issues such as air in the lines, failing calipers or wheel cylinders, failing master cylinder, or a weak flex line can feel soft when you hit the pedal.
- Hard Brake pedal- If the brake pedal is hard to push, the problem is most likely in the power assist mechanism. There are 3 types of power assists- Vacuum, hydraulic, and electric. Most vehicles use a vacuum booster that provides braking assistance so that you don’t have to exert as much effort on the brake pedal. If you’re dealing with a hard brake pedal, it’s time to get this checked out.
- Longer Braking times– If your vehicle is taking longer to stop than normal, then you are experiencing brake fade. Often at times when you’re driving down a big mountain, riding the brakes will heat up the pads and rotors. Once they cool down, they can return back to their original performance. If they don’t, then this is going to be a long-term problem. The only solution from here is to replace the pads and rotors.
Prepare an Emergency Kit
Sometimes, no matter how much we put into preparation, life happens, and we can’t always control the what ifs that come into play.
You can make that unpleasant situation a little more tolerable with a fully packed emergency kit for the road. Here are a few things I like to bring with me when I travel in the winter.
- Jumper cables
- Tire pressure gauge
- Blankets
- Drinking water and snacks
- Flashlight
- Phone charger
- Ice Scraper
- Gloves
- First Aid Kit
Anything can happen anywhere and anytime. And they can happen to you, your family, or a complete stranger. Having the right supplies in your vehicle will give you the ability to help, no matter what the situation is.
Keep Your Rear-Window Defroster in Working Order
Not being able to see behind you creates unsafe driving conditions. As a matter of fact, some states have laws that stating that all of your windows must be clear of condensation and debris.
When winterizing your car, check your rear-window defroster before cold weather arrives to be sure its working properly.
Always check your defroster grids to ensure these are working like they should. The defroster grids are the skinny lines that run across your rear windshield, and their job is to remove any fog or melt any ice in the winter by generating heat to give you better visibility. Not checking this can severely affect your visibility and put you in harm’s way.
Thoughts & Takeaways
And that wraps things up for today. Winterizing your vehicle takes us being intentional and paying attention throughout the year. Often at times, we don’t even think about winterizing our car until something unexpected happens. I hope you found this article to be helpful. My hope is, that you regularly check your vehicle’s fluids, tires, brakes, throughout the year to prevent any future problems. Please let me know some of the ways you winterize your vehicle in the comment section below.
-CT