How to Winterize Your Car

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By eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating: (74 Ratings)

Winterize Your Car

Winter can be rough on cars, so unless you live in a warm or moderate climate, here's a list of things you can do to make sure your vehicle is ready for the upcoming cold season.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Gloves
Gloves
Gloves
Blankets
Windshield Wiper Fluid
Wiper Blades
Kitty Litters
Small Snow Shovels
Auto Emergency Kits
Flashlights
Ice Scrapers
Tire Gauges
Flashlights
Blankets

Step 1

Don't put off a 30,000-mile full service, if your car is due.
Step 2

Flush the cooling system and replace the coolant.
Step 3

Replace the windshield wiper blades. Put windshield washer fluid in the windshield washer reservoir (plain water will freeze).
Step 4

Have the battery serviced (clean the battery terminal ends and add water) and load-tested to check its ability to hold a charge. If the battery is more than 4 1/2 years old, replace it.
Step 5

Use a tire gauge to check the tire pressure. Air contracts with cold, and the tires may become low as the temperature drops.
Step 6

Make sure there is air in the spare tire and that all the proper tire-changing equipment is in the trunk.
Step 7

Make sure the tires are in good condition. If you are not sure what this means, ask a mechanic (in a shop that doesn't sell tires) for an opinion.
Step 8

Check the lights, heater and defroster.
Step 9

Keep the gas tank as full as possible to prevent moisture from freezing in the gas lines.
Step 10

Get a brake check if you haven't had one in the last six months.
Step 11

Put together an emergency winter kit for the trunk of your car: blanket, extra boots and gloves, ice scraper, small snow shovel, flashlight and kitty litter (for traction when stuck in the snow).

Comments

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