Winterizing Your Car for Snowy Weather | Scott's Fort Collins Auto

Winterizing Your Car for Snowy Weather  

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The weather is getting colder and more and more people are facing snowy weather conditions. To keep your car operating as it should this winter, you need to take proper steps to winterizing your car. Here is what you need to know to stay safe on the road through the snow and sleet.

What is Winterizing Your Car? 

Winterizing your car involves preparing it for the upcoming colder and snowy months. Colder temperatures can bring along snow and ice, which causes less than ideal driving conditions. However, the better you prepare beforehand, the more likely you are to go through winter just fine. Along with exterior maintenance, there are some interior things you can do to your vehicle to make sure you are safe on the road this winter. 

Tips of Winterizing Your Car

1. Have winter tools handy

As you prepare to drive in the snow and ice, you will need to be prepared to scrape ice off your windshield just in case. It is a good idea to keep a pair of gloves and an ice scraper in your car. If you know that you’ll be embarking in deep snow, it might not be a bad idea to keep a small shovel to clear your path or help you get un-stuck if needed.

2. Have an emergency kit

It is always a good idea to have an emergency kit in your car just in case you find yourself stranded in the middle of nowhere for hours. Your car emergency kit should include:

  • Non-perishable snacks
  • Bottled water
  • Blanket
  • Phone charger
  • Jumper cables
  • Flashlight
  • Change of clothes

3. Get winter tires

Winter tires, also known as snow tires, help protect you against icy road conditions. These tires have special rubber compounds and tread designs that allow them to better grip to the road in weather conditions where normal tires won’t work as well — like the snow and ice. US News & World Report explains that the mission of winter tires is to expand the range of conditions in which the tires hold grip, providing traction where your normal tires would just slide. 

Not everyone needs winter tires, however, if you live in a place that is consistently in freezing temperatures during the winter, getting winter tires is a good idea. 

4. Check your car’s antifreeze 

When the weather gets cold, checking your antifreeze levels is a necessity. Antifreeze helps cool the car’s engine, but it also helps prevent it from freezing when the weather gets cold. Additionally, it also helps provide heat inside your car’s cabin. This system helps fight damage by keeping the engine within the correct temperatures. CarCare News Service notes that issues with a car’s cooling system is one of the top causes of engine-related breakdowns.

How to Drive Safely in the Snow

If you have to drive in the snow this winter, it’s important that you leave early enough on your trip to give yourself plenty of time to drive slowly and safely. In addition to driving slower you should be sure to speed up and come to a stop much slower than you normally would. 

In the event the weather is very bad, you should try to stay home unless absolutely necessary to keep yourself, and others, safe on the icy streets.

Trust Scott’s This Winter

If you aren’t going to have the time to check and prepare your car yourself before the winter officially begins, stop by one of our three convenient Scott’s Auto locations. We will check it all — from your antifreeze, tires, brakes, and more — to make sure everything is going to work as it should as the temperatures drop. 

Fort Collins: (970)-682-4202

Loveland: (970)-541-4404

Montrose: (970)-615-5150

 

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