Winter is coming and no matter what the weather the show must go on. That means that we’ve all still got to go to work and school. So we’ve asked our team at Auto Towing Sacramento for some of their best tips for preparing your car for winter.
We want our customers to keep safe and the best way to do that is to prepare for winter driving. So, here goes – our best advice for winterizing your car:
Check Your Tires
You should check your tire pressure about once a month, but this is especially important during the winter, because tire pressure can drop when it becomes colder. Don’t overinflate your tires because that will cause them to slide on the roads.
Also, check your tires for tread wear and don’t forget to rotate them every time you change oil. You need at least a 4/32 inch tread depth for winter driving. An easy way to check this is to put a quarter in the groove with Washington’s head upside down. If the tread touches his head, you have at least a 4/32 inch of tread depth remaining.
If you are going to be driving in snow, don’t wait until it starts to change your tires to snow tires.
Check Your Air-Conditioning System
Don’t forget to make sure that your car air conditioner is working before the winter. Using your air conditioner during the winter months will help prolong its life.
Use your air conditioner to blow warm air from your heater into the car.
And don’t forget to check your car heater before it starts to get cold. You don’t want to be sitting there freezing in your car on a long drive.
Check Your Break System
During the winter when the roads are more slippery your breaks are under a lot more strain than during the other seasons. Therefore, we suggest checking that your breaks are in good working order before the winter season and then again a couple of times during the season.
Check Your Steering System
Check that your steering system is working properly before the winter season. The winter conditions make steering very challenging. It’s advisable to have a professional mechanic check your steering system for driving in winter conditions.
Check Your Electronic Systems
Your car’s electronic system consists of your battery, starter and alternator. It is wise to have these inspected before the cold season.
Check that your fan belt and alternator drive belts are tight and not worn and that plugs and other leads are in good condition and secure. And, inspect your battery – battery power drops as the temperature drops!
If you don’t feel confident doing these yourself, it is best to get a professional to do it for you.
Keep Safe
We hope that you take the time to prepare your car for winter using our professional tips.
We also suggest making an emergency kit to keep in your car in case you breakdown during the cold winter months. This will keep you and your family safe until help arrives.
For a winter emergency kit you will need:
- first-aid kit
- flashlight
- road flares
- a few blankets
- a change of warm clothes (for the driver)
- warm gloves
- radio
- batteries
- mobile cellphone charger
- charged cellphone (for emergency calls)
- a bag of sand (for traction)
- an extra ice scraper
- Extra antifreeze
- some snacks (think things you can leave in the car – nuts, dry fruit, jerky, etc.).
Avoid driving in storms and blizzards. If the weather conditions are extreme stay off the roads and always drive safely.
Slow down, stay focused and have a safe winter,
Auto Towing Sacramento
