Massachusetts Subaru News

How to Prepare Your Car for the Winter

When winter rolls around, you'll want to make sure to stock up on coats, hats, and gloves, but you can't forget your most important investment: your car. Winterizing your motor vehicle is crucial to keeping it in good service during the cold season, but it could also save you from an accident. You don't want your car stuck in several feet of snow on the side of the road. A few to keep you and your car safe this winter include:

Visibility

Replace your windshield wipers regularly, and make sure they're in suitable shape for the winter. They have a durability of approximately a year, so make sure you get a replacement if it's been about that long. Another way to ensure you can see in an ice storm is to have windshield washer fluid in your dispenser -- not plain water. Plain water freezes as soon as temperatures get subzero, so it's useless. Check that heaters and windshield defrosters are working properly, too.

Tires

Keep your tires properly inflated to make sure that they have as much traction as possible on the road. Lack of traction is a major cause of winter accidents because it drops significantly in sleet, snow, and other icy conditions. Your tires lose pressure when temperatures drops by just ten degrees Fahrenheit, so regular tire pressure checks are crucial. If you live in a place with many bridges, inclines, and hills and you get hit with a lot of snow, it's a good idea to invest in winter tires. You keep your all-season tires for much longer if you do, and you can easily switch them out when warmer weather rolls around again.

Battery and Engine

Double check all battery and engine systems before the cold weather arrives because otherwise it will absolutely wreak havoc on them. Make sure your four wheel drive system is working correctly, and can engage and disengage when needed. Take a look at your battery to ensure that the posts and connections are not corroded. Have a mechanic test its ability to hold a charge if you're not sure if it can hold up. Many motorists have been stranded in the middle of an empty street with a dead battery on their Massachusetts Subaru. Things can get chilly very quickly.

Emergency Planning

A lot of people seem to overlook this, but it is crucial to plan for an emergency situation more than ever in winter. The back of your trunk should have a well-equipped emergency kit including the following items: a blanket, warm clothing, water and food, an ice scraper, a first-aid kit, towels, tire chains, jumper cables, flares, and a small shovel. A bag of sand or kitty litter can also be immensely helpful if your car is stuck in the snow. Have an emergency plan to stay close to your car, and always have a full tank to keep yourself warm and run the engine. You never know when a day out on the road can turn into a disaster, but with these simple guidelines, you'll never be caught unaware.