How to prepare your car for winter

When temperatures start to drop, it’s time to get your car ready for winter. The right maintenance, preparation and tools can be literal lifesavers in harsh conditions. Car paint protection Adelaide addresses this, and includes a long-lasting Ceramic Coating to help your paintwork remain looking like new for as long as possible.

Regular maintenance

Now’s the time to get your car up to speed on all of its regular maintenance. That means taking care of any fluids that may have been neglected while you were out enjoying the summer sun or going in for that 60,000-mile tune-up if you’re due. Check, change and/or top off your oil, coolant, and brake and transmission fluid as needed. In the case of your oil or automatic transmission, make sure you get a high-quality filter, too. It may seem like overkill to take care of all of your fluids at once, but it’s worth it in the long run.

Take a look at the car’s brakes too. Are your rotors warped or cracked? Do they have deep grooves or are the pads worn close to their minimum clearance? Your vehicle will be experiencing harsher conditions soon, so nip any potential problems in the bud now. Make sure all your lights are working properly to ensure good visibility. New bulbs only cost a few dollars and are easy to install yourself or have installed when getting your vehicle serviced. The same goes for windshield wipers. If your blades are more than six months old, odds are it’s time to swap them out for new ones. And don’t forget to fill the washer fluid reservoir with freeze-resistant wiper fluid.

Check your tires

Go ahead and have your tires rotated and inspected. The last thing you need in cold, wet weather is to be driving on bald or dry-rotted tires. Err on the side of caution and replace any tires that are too worn.

We’d recommend looking into snow (or winter) tires, depending on your location and the length of time you’ll be spending in the snow. Winter tires are made with special low-temperature-resilient rubber compounds and have deep treads that grip unplowed snow and ice. Even the best all-season tires have compounds that get more brittle as the temperature drops, and when that happens, the tires tend to grip less. The winter tire compound remains pliable when temperatures are low, retaining grip and keeping the car’s safety systems, like all-wheel drive and anti-lock brakes, functioning properly.

At this time, also make sure your spare tire has enough air in it. Once everything looks good, take a look at your tire pressure. With everything up to spec, you’ll get better gas mileage and your vehicle will handle and stop better.

Protect the interior

You can’t discount the impact weather can have on the interior of your vehicle either. If you’re going to spend a lot of time ducking in and out of the elements, you might want to grab some all-weather floor mats. They’re easy to clean and do a great job of keeping the muck in one place. Making sure your windows are clean will also improve visibility and reduce the likelihood of steamy glass.

Maintain the coolant system

Our most important tip is to take the time to get your car’s coolant system checked. Extreme temperatures and harsh conditions can easily knock it out if it’s not up to snuff. If any part of the system comes up with a shaky bill of health, swap the parts for new ones. That means having your car’s radiator pressure tested and the hoses examined for cracks or bulges. Most shops can quickly test radiators without the hassle of removing them from the vehicle.

If you can’t remember the last time your water pump was replaced, or your pump has more miles on it than what the manufacturer recommends, it’s time for a new one. While you’re at it, go for a new thermostat as well—you’ll save money on labor getting these two done at once.

Even if everything under the hood comes up good to go, replacing your engine’s coolant is cheap insurance against extreme temperatures. Over time, antifreeze can actually generate a weak electrical current, which can then cause oxidation and eventually failure inside of your coolant system. You’ll want at least a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water to provide protection against below-zero temperatures. Keeping everything fresh inside will put less stress on your vehicle’s hardware and save you serious money in the long run.

Stock your car

Stranded by the side of the road can be dangerous in the best of conditions, but when sub-zero temperatures or bad weather is involved, it can be downright deadly. Carrying these supplies may save your life:

  • Blanket
  • Jumper cables
  • Flashlight
  • Chains
  • First-aid kit
  • Small knife
  • Flares
  • A couple energy bars
  • Water gloves
  • Small shovel
  • Waterproof matches
  • Ice scraper
  • A bag of sand or kitty litter to help provide traction if your car is stuck in the snow

A little preparation goes a long way to keep your car running smoothly during the winter months. Not only will the right tools and maintenance protect you and your car from the elements, but they will also keep you safe.

Try These Tips Before Giving Your Mechanic A Call

Car paint protection Sydney provides superior scratch resistance, UV protection, and chemical protection and can only be applied by Approved Applicators. You may feel at a loss when you have to deal with your car problems. You must do something because you don’t want to have to feel this experience every time. Continue reading to find out how you can get a better grasp of what to do when making repairs that come up with your car.

This certification means that the technician has completed a written test and has more than two years of experience under his or her belt. This will ensure that you have a capable person working on your vehicle.

If you do not understand something, clarify it with the service adviser or mechanic before starting any repair on the car. You don’t want to be hit with unexpected charges after the car has been repaired.

You do not have to contact a mechanic every time your car to the shop when there is an issue. There are several things that could be fixed very easily. If it is a simple fix, make the repairs yourself to save money.

Make sure to have car records on hand. You may want these with you when you go to get repairs done; a great place to store them is the glove compartment. The auto repair professionals will need to refer to these records. This can make the problem quicker and more precisely.

Make sure you specifically request OEM parts. These are directly from the manufacturer of your vehicle. While generics are much cheaper, you’ll never know how good the quality is. It may cost you more in the amount later as OEM components to begin with.

If you notice your headlights do not shine as brightly as they used to, check to see if they are clean. Clean theses with a glass cleaning agent to get them as clean as possible.

Although most auto shops are reliable, you may end up paying for extra repairs you don’t need. Search for a reliable shops that specializes in repairing the make of vehicle you have. These types of shops will give you the best bang for your car repairs.

Think about finding a mechanic who does repairs in his own garage. If they possess sufficient experience, you can get the same work done at a much cheaper price. You could save hundreds on the cost of money this way.

The weight of a big key chain. If your key sticks, then you must get rid of all the extra stuff attached to your keys.

Be sure that you make a note of your oil needs changing. You have to change it regularly to keep your vehicle runs smoothly. If you don’t change it, your car may not last as long as it could.

If your car has been having a small problem that you think is minor, you should take your car in to check it out anyway. A seemingly small problem can become a big one if it is left unchecked.

Warranties really come in handy when it comes to fixing expensive parts. Ask the mechanic about the warranties on parts they ordered for you.

If you need your car fixed, but need auto repairs, you can visit a vocational school in your area to have the automotive department do repairs. You can pay much less for service since students do some work on your vehicle while a mechanic looks on.

Bleed your brakes before you take your car on them. Test for leaks to ensure that no fluid coming out. You are then ready to take your car on roads that don’t have a spin down less-busy roads. Start slowly to make sure that the repair is done well before risking higher speeds.

Original Equipment Manufacturer is the acronym OEM. Remember this when you need to have car parts replaced. You will seem like a knowledgeable person on auto repair by telling your mechanic you only want OEM parts. This means you’re less of a chance at getting used parts from someone.

AAA is a good company to look into when you need auto repair issues. You can often find discounts for repair costs from AAA.

After having a mechanic replace a car part, ask him to give you back the one that he removed. If they refuse, he probably never replaced the parts he said he did. This is a red flag that should call him out on it.

Always listen to the sounds what you’re driving is making. Noise can indicate a problem if you know what to listen for.

If you go to a auto body shop and they do good work, you should get back with them the next time your vehicle is having trouble. You will get discounts for your continued business.

Now you’re armed with how to deal with auto repair! You can find the repairs you need at a price you can afford, without sacrificing your safety. Continue to learn all you can about care repair, so this never happens to you.