Top 6 Tips on Preparing Your Vehicle For Winter

Navigating the road on a normal day takes a great deal of patience and focus but when you add the slickness of the road that makes it hard for tires to move on smoothly alongside rain, snow and sleet on the windshield, it can get tougher. It is popular knowledge that when the winter period sets in, it is best to get adequately prepared to avoid road emergencies and accidents. Most people tend to avoid the whole concept of driving when winter rolls in and turn to other alternatives as a precaution. If adequate preparations are made ahead of the winter period for road navigation, then there would be no need to fear the road. The following are helpful tips on how to prepare your vehicle for the winter months:

1. Windshields

One part of the car susceptible to the elements of the weather is the windshield. Be it the autumnal period where you have dust and leaves or winter where the snow leaves watery trails thereby blurring the vision. Winter period combines fog, snow, rain and sleet cutting down visibility. In a bid to retain visibility, constant wiping of not only the windshields but also the wiper blades need to be done. Therefore, having a washer at hand alongside a wash cloth brings visibility back to normal, also making using of the antifreeze solution helps prevent build-up of ice on the windows and the windshield thereby preventing any likelihood of blurred vision.

2. Tire Inspection

During winter months, it is best to mount winter tires so as to avoid slipping on the slick, wet roads but if that is not an option then the existing tires have to be examined so as to estimate the tread life. Examination of the tires involves checking if there are any signs of uneven wearing and cupping, if the side walls have cuts or nicks and also to determine if the tires can hold up in the harsh weather. It is well known that the colder the weather, the lesser the amount of pressure within the tires thereby causing poor performance on the snow. The tire should be checked frequently before any journey.

3. Coolant

Internal temperature of the car is something that has to be regulated. If this is not monitored, then the heaters and conditioner get clogged up not bringing out the set temperature. The coolant not only regulates the temperature of the engine but also safeguards it against corrosion. During the winter season it is essential that the most suitable coolant to the car system be use as well as the ratio of water to coolant be gotten right. If unsure of the type of coolant to get, then there are tests available at auto parts centre just for this.

4. Ice Scrapers

Having ice scrapers in your car can come in handy as it helps to clean off any ice or snow that has built up on the windows of the car. When a build-up of ice or snow is evident, then it is best to rid the car completely of all of them and not merely scrape off a significant amount to allow for visibility. If only the windshield is cleaned, snow from other parts of the car can drift off back to the windshield thereby blurring the vision. It is the law in certain parts of the state for the vehicle to be cleared of both ice and snow before commencing on any journey.

5. Survival Kit

Otherwise referred to as emergency roadside kit, this is bound to come in handy when travelling in conditions that are heavily fogged and below freezing. Having a survival kit at hand is like a lifeline in case you find yourself stranded. The kit should comprise of flashlights with a set of backup batteries, sturdy weather boots, quilts or blankets, extra pair of clothes, nutrition bars, bottle of water, tire chains, gloves, flares and portable phone chargers. Have a good spare tire with a readily available tool box with tools in great working condition.

6. Gas

During the winter periods, it takes twice the amount of time to navigate from point A to point B than it would have during the summer. This is as a result of the harsh weather conditions and can be fuel consuming. It is advisable that the gas tank be kept full at all times and an extra keg of gas be kept in the booth in case of emergencies.

If you find yourself stranded, having the extra fuel makes the difference between staying warm and freezing.

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