December 1st marks the start of meteorological winter, and with snowstorms spreading across much of the country and ski areas opening from east to west, there’s a good chance you’ll be doing some proper winter-weather driving in the coming months. If you haven’t already done so, now is a great time to get your car ready for the colder days ahead. Here are 15 tips to prepare and protect your vehicle for the winter.
15 Tips to Prepare Your Car For The Winter
- Apply a ceramic spray sealant on paint and wheels
- Adds protection and makes winter grime easier to wash off.
- Protect your glass with a glass sealant or coating
- Reduces ice adhesion and improves visibility.
- Use a fabric protectant on carpets and upholstery
- Helps resist salt stains, mud, and melted snow.
- Get rust-proofing done
- Protects against salt corrosion. Options include oil, grease, or wax-based treatments.
- Inspect and replace worn wiper blades
- Ensures maximum visibility in snow and slush.
- Use all-weather floor mats
- Traps slush, dirt, and liquids to protect your carpets.
- Apply rubber seal protectant on door and trunk seals
- Keeps them soft and prevents freezing shut.
- Remove snow safely without scratching the paint
- Use a microfiber-covered brush or a leaf blower.
- Use a de-icer for icy windows
- Melts ice without scraping the glass.
- Monitor and maintain proper tire pressure
- Pressure drops in cold weather, proper inflation improves handling and safety.
- Keep your gas tank at least half full
- Prevents fuel line freeze and reduces condensation.
- Use winter-grade windshield washer fluid
- Prevents freezing and keeps glass clean from slush and salt.
- Check your battery health
- Cold weather stresses batteries, test especially if 3+ years old.
- Inspect coolant level and mixture
- Prevents freezing, overheating, and internal engine corrosion.
- Carry an emergency roadside kit
- Include jumper cables, flashlight, first aid kit, blankets, snacks, water, and reflective gear.
