Dana Vento

Lavishly Living Life Out Loud - Travel, Culinary Travel & Life

Tips For Winter Car Care

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Winter Car Care, winter, winter car prep, winter auto prep, winter vehicle prep, cars, car, autos, automobile, vehicle, vehicles, how to, tips for winter car car, snow, salt, sleet, rain, ice, shovels, battery, windshield fluid, car prep, what to expect, november, december, january, february, marchYour vehicle is your source of transportation from Point A to Point B and you have to maintain it.  Seasonal driving is a challenge for all car owners and each season brings on the need for different types of car care and car maintenance. 

With the impending winter season upon us, it is time to dish out the tips for winter car care so you keep your vehicle set for whatever you might encounter.

Driving in cold weather comes with its own unique set of issues. Obviously, the severity of the problem depends on where you live geographically. But, there’s no reason to panic or vow to stay off the roads until spring.

Consider the following car tips. They go a long way in lessening the challenge of cold-weather driving.  Lavishly live the lovely season of winter out loud with these tips for car care for the winter months.

Tips For Winter Car Care

*This is a Sponsored Post on behalf of Cars.Com*

Mats 

Your car mats will become your best friend and save your floor interior from looking like it took a brutal beating. No one wants to spend the entire spring cleaning up a salty, muddy mess from winter.  Invest in good car mats and keep the salt, mud, and snow off of your floor and on a washable mat.

Keep Your Gas Tank Full

In the age of fluctuating gas prices, it may not always be possible to keep your gas tank full. But, the last thing you need is to get stranded somewhere, because of inclement weather, with an almost empty tank of fuel.

Remember, in situations like this, running your engine may be your only source of heat. It doesn’t take long to freeze in blizzard-like conditions.

Carry Emergency Supplies

Emergency supplies such as extra windshield washer fluid, antifreeze, a warm blanket, sandbags (if you have a rear-wheel drive vehicle), bottled water, non-perishable snacks, extra boots and/or gloves, a tire inflator and jumper cables are all things to consider carrying in the trunk, during cold weather. You never know when you might need them.

Windshield Wiper Etiquette

When it comes to windshield wiper etiquette, there are two things to keep in mind. First, if you utilize “winter wipers,” remove them during the spring. Using this heavy-duty version all year long has the potential of prematurely wearing out your wiper motor.

Second, always turn off the wipers before shutting off the engine. If you don’t, it’s quite possible that the blades will actually freeze and stick to the glass. Attempting to “un-stick” them by turning them on can burn out the motor as well.

SUV Happiness

If you are driving an SUV, remember to make sure you know how to kick it into 4 wheel drive and make sure that the 4 wheel drive function is working.  Many people buy the 4 wheel drive vehicles and don’t know how to use them or how useful they are, they just ‘own them’! Don’t fall into this category, get ahead of the storm! Have your Car Dealership show you how to use all the functions in your vehicle.

Battery Basics

It’s important to make sure your car battery is up to the challenge, before cold weather hits. Make sure the terminals are all clean and tightened down properly. Cleaning the terminals is easy. All you need is an old toothbrush and a mixture of water and baking soda to get the job done.

Seat Belts & Car Seats

Make sure to check every seat belt to ensure it buckles and unbuckles. Wipe them off, with a disinfecting wipe to keep them clean. Car Seats need to be cleaned (from debris) as well as throw-up and boogie.  Car seats should be checked to make certain it is fastened correctly, you can never keep your precious cargo too safe!

Car Maintenance

Don’t forget that just because the winter is beating on your car, you still should wash it and have it waxed.  There are a lot of car washes that take care of both items with a simple drive through.  The cost is so inexpensive and the results are great.

These are just four of many tips to follow to make driving in inclement conditions easier and safer. Don’t let Old Man Winter get you down. Remember, warmer weather will return before you know it! Lavishly live travel in your car out loud during the cold and snowy months with my tips for winter car care.

Need more Car Tips & Tricks? Check out these great articles:

Best use of time at a gas station

Tips For Keeping Black Car Interiors Clean

Streak Free Windshields

5 Cleaning Products That Harm Your Vehicle 

Tire Tread Matters

Tire Tread Matters

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Great post, Thanks for sharing your experience with us, really it’s very important that what should we do in winter and what not.

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  3. This is a great post, very informative. Thanks for sharing. Winter car care involves inspection of various components, that said, you shouldn’t forget tires. Winter tires are a must for a safe drive and it’s never to late to get them.

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  4. It is good to know that it would be smart to have a get really good window wipers for my windshield. I wonder if it would be good for me to get a coating put on my car to help protect the metal from the snow.

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  5. It is good to know that it would be smart to have a get really good window wipers for my windshield. I wonder if it would be good for me to get a coating put on my car to help protect the metal from the snow.`

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  6. One’s holiday travel will be a bit bitter if he would not follow the car maintenance tips. Flawless vehicle adds value to your celebration. The availability of spare tire and jack can avoid your possible tire related problem in the mid of your journey. CJ Holmskovec

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  7. I just got my first car last month. Winter is coming up fast, and I really want to keep the car in good shape. It is good to know that it would be smart to have a get really good window wipers for my windshield. I wonder if it would be good for me to get a coating put on my car to help protect the metal from the snow.

    Reply

  9. That makes sense to get mats. Not only is there snow to worry about, there’s also ice and defrosters. You don’t want those eating your flooring.

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  10. Hi Dana
    I read your post and i found there all of tips are essential for winter car care. I think it is the most unpredictable time of the year to drive the car. I will definitely keep these tips for future use also check the brake oil regularly. If you had more insight i will greatly appreciate it. Thanks for the sharing such a helpful post with lots of information.
    Calvin Ault recently posted..Best Tire Pressure Gauge Reviews 2018My Profile

    Reply

  12. Very valuable information.Its very dangerous to drive in winter specially where there is a snow fall.Thanks for sharing this tips.In winter the car needs more maintenance specially the batteries and wheels.Keep posting such article.

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  13. If your car has rare spare parts, and is not a common model, you will be safer going to a dealership. They might be more expensive but you are assured of getting a mechanic that has been trained by a particular car manufacturer. Some dealerships are so good that they have a mechanic from each of the major manufacturers. You will get a mechanic particular to your car type who will probably install factory parts instead of used, tried parts. A dealership is ideal if your car is still covered under warranty or the costs are paid by insurance.

    Reply

  14. Winter is not safe for driving. Thus, it is important to check the vehicle before driving. Cold temperature reduces air pressure in tires. Lowering the tire pressure can lead in a reduction of gas mileage. Remember correct tire pressure and rotation help to enhance the fuel economy and extends the tire life.
    Eacpoway recently posted..Hello world!My Profile

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  15. I love what you said about using a toothbrush and water mixed with baking soda to clean the terminals a car battery. My husband loves working on cars and wants to try out some new things with his muffler before cold weather hits. I’m sure he would really benefit from having a professional take a look at it and help him out.

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  16. Make sure your tires are properly inflated because cold temperature reduce air pressure in tires. I think you need to used winterized tires because these tires will help you maintain traction on the road when you are braking and turning.

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  17. I didn’t know that it’s hard to deal with snow for your car. It’s a good thing it doesn’t snow here in our place. All I know is that it’s dangerous to drive thru black ice.

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  19. If you live where snow and ice are ever-present, consider buying dedicated winter tires mounted on inexpensive steel wheels.
    Winter tires typically have shorter tread life and generate more road noise than the all-season tires that your vehicle came with. But the extra safety they provide is generally worth the compromise.

    Reply

  21. Car is the luxurious one and to maintain the durability of the car you should check the lightning part of the car, then check the battery part of the car, if it is not working the you should replace that one. Generally, coolant keep the engine from freezing in cold temperatures, so you have check for the coolant system. Check the tire part of the car meas tire pressure In your blog one can get the better information that how to take care of your car.

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  23. A routine maintenance is not so bad,to avoid bigger problems in the future and even prevent from even having one. Routine maintenance is the best way to keep vehicle in top notch shape especially in winter season.This is a BIG2x checklist for winter for those who might not be completely familiar with what all needs to be done to maintain their car.Thank you for sharing.

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  24. Winter can be hard on your car especially windshields can crack easily will fast dropping temps in Montana you can be fined over a cracked front glass. In Florida you can have your windshield replaced for free if you have full coverage insurance.

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  25. Incredible Tips !! I love Reading it.These are really helpful for everyone to take care of the car in winters.Taking care of the car in winters is very difficult due to excess cold. Thanks a lot for sharing this great content with us.

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  26. To start the car or vehicle in winters is one of the difficult tasks. Everyone is facing this common problem. Points you mentioned here are very useful for the users to take care of your car in winters. Thanks for sharing the great article.

    Reply

  27. I love winter season so much and also love my car. But in the winter season, it’s very difficult to drive. Reading your article I have found some awesome tips. Thanks for sharing this nice post with us.

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  30. Winter season, during which the temperature could reach the lowest point. Extreme cold temperature could damage the car parts and hence car needs special maintenance in order to mitigate such adverse effects. Tire pressure fluctuates according to the surrounding temperature and should be checked at a regular interval and should be properly inflated. And tire tread depth should be checked at a regular interval and if necessary should be replaced by winter tires. During winter season engines need proportionally more amount of energy for ignition hence gives additional loads on the battery. And one should avoid taking too many short drives as it could affect the car battery. Proper maintenance of the car during winter could mitigate the adverse effects of the extremely cold winter.

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  31. Seasonal maintenance should be done in every car to meet the atmospheric condition of the weather. The battery of the car fails to start the engine in the excess cold. So we must check the solvent of the battery if it is at its correct level or not. Its terminals should be cleaned & tightened down properly. If we are utilizing winter wipers, they should be removed during the spring. Because using this heavy duty version during the whole year has the possibility of premature wearing out of the wiper motor. Before shutting off the engine we should turn off the wiper. If this is not done, the wiper blades may freeze & stick to the glass. The brakes & tires also should be properly maintained.

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  33. If you ask me then, these tips really helped me before when I drives in the cold front of Canada.
    It did wonders for me especially the tires were not ruined which mostly happens in these conditions. Lots of people will get the help from this information and they should abide to it, if they are willing to have a great trip without much hiccups.
    Charles recently posted..how many speakers are in my car?My Profile

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  35. Winter is coming soon and I really would like to better take care of my car this season! That is a great idea to make sure my car battery is properly cleaned and tightened down before winter comes! I had my car refuse to start one time because of how dirty the terminals were! Thank you for the reminder and other tips!

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  36. Check your tire pressure properly because cold temperature directly affects the tire pressure. Make sure your car tires are properly inflated because decrease in pressure causes accidents.

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  38. Seasonal maintenance should be done to meet atmospheric condition of the weather. Due to excess cold in the winter brakes, tires as well as windshield wipers are getting damaged. The most important thing is car’s battery is going to discharge or fails to start the engine. Before cold weather hits you need to check the solvent of the battery either this is maintaining its correct level or not. Make sure the terminals are all clean and tightened down properly. Using windshield wiper etiquette, heavy-duty version all year long has the potential of prematurely wearing out your wiper motor. To avoid spoil of your journey always fill the tank with proper fuel. Contact with a well known garage for keeping fit to your car by getting qualitatively performance.

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  39. Thanks for such useful tips which we often neglect and suffer in the middle of a road. I will definitely keep these tips for future use. Also check the brake oil regularly and refill it if it has turned brown in color. Otherwise it will corrode the whole braking system. We should always follow such preventive maintenance for our car so that it lasts long and less cost.

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  40. Don’t forget that just because the winter is beating on your car, you still should wash it and have it waxed. Due to excess cold in winter car’s tire, brake systems are getting stif. Also there is so much chances for the battery to gain its charge. Taking suitable steps of action you need to warm up the engine and adding proper amount of oil in the engine can help to run the vehicle. Car seat should be checked to make certain certain it is fastened correctly.

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  41. Hi Dana,
    Thanks for sharing such commendable winter car care tips. I would like to tell that the chilly winter months can be brutal on the car. I think it is the most unpredictable time of the year to drive the car. I know no one can make his vehicle ready for all the probable winter driving pitfalls, but the most advisable task he can do to protect himself against the glacial temperature, and fleecy roads, is to keep the pace with the winter car maintenance schedule and auto service.

    Reply

  43. All good tips! Another might be to keep a set of chains in the trunk if you live in a snow area. There is a product almost every general store carries called Rain-X. Rain-x lets the rain just bead-up and blow off the windshield. To me it’s a must have!

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  44. It’s crazy how I wasn’t able to take care of my car last winter. And now, reading this helps me a lot on what to do now. I was kind of new back then when it comes to cars and it was my first car. Thank you for the amazing tips. Will surely share this and apply them.

    Reply

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