Do These 10 Things to Get Your Car Ready for Winter

Test car battery

In cold temperatures, the battery’s chemical reaction slows down, making it harder to stay fully charged and deliver enough power to start the engine. It’s important to test the battery’s voltage to see if it needs to be replaced. To test your car battery, set your multimeter to read volts. When the engine is off, touch the red lead of the multimeter to the positive battery terminal and touch the black lead to the negative terminal post.

Your reading should be between 11.9 volts to 12.8 volts. If you run the same test with the engine running (the alternator is then charging the battery), your reading should be in the range of 14.1 to 14.6 volts. A car battery typically lasts around 50,000-60,000 miles. In colder climates, it may need to be replaced before 50,000 miles.

Tip: Keeping the battery terminals clean and secure is essential for getting the most out of your car battery.

FAMILY HANDYMAN

Inspect car belts and hoses

Cold weather and rubber do not play well together. Cold temperatures can cause rubber hoses to become weak, leading to cracking and eventually leaking. When checking your vehicle, make sure the engine is off and wait for it to be cooled off. Use a flashlight to look for any surface cracking on the hoses, and make sure that the hoses are still soft and flexible but not mushy when gently squeezing them. Replace the hoses if you notice any signs of cracking or failing hoses.

Use a flashlight to check the belts for wear and replace them if you notice the following:

• The ribs are rounded over or flattened out.
• Small cracks are OK, but spider web-like cracking on the surface signals extreme wear.
• Pieces of the belt are missing or frayed.
• The smoother side of the belt is glossy or shiny, which means it slips due to being worn out.

FAMILY HANDYMAN

Check the engine coolant

Coolant is essential for maintaining your car’s proper functioning. It prevents the engine from overheating or freezing in extreme temperatures. Locate the coolant reservoir and check if the coolant level is at or below the max fill line. If your coolant is running low, top it off by adding a 50/50 mix of concentrated coolant and distilled water to the reservoir until it reaches the max fill line.

Over time, coolant deteriorates and requires you to flush your radiator. Testing the coolant with test strips is a simple way to determine if it’s time to do this. Bob Lacivita recommends flushing the coolant system at least one year before the vehicle manufacturer suggests it, especially if you do lots of harsh—short or city stop—and—go—driving or drive in dusty, dirty conditions.

FAMILY HANDYMAN

Check the engine air filter

The engine air filter needs to be replaced between 12,000 and 15,000 miles, but depending on the environment, it might need to be replaced more often. Car air filters keep your engine running properly by preventing dirt and dust from getting to your engine. The last thing you want is to have engine problems in the dead of winter! You can complete this quick and easy maintenance task in under ten minutes. To purchase a replacement engine air filter, you can find your car’s required size online or in your car’s manual. Once you have your new filter, locate the engine air filter housing under your hood and swap it out for a new one if yours looks dusty and dirty.

FAMILY HANDYMAN

Inspect your tires

Low air pressure can cause blowouts and uneven tire wear. Check tire pressure using a tire pressure gauge. Determine your tires’ required PSI (pounds per square inch) by reading the sticker on the driver’s side door jamb. If you don’t see the recommended PSI on your door jamb, check your owner’s manual. You will also need an air compressor to fill the tires with air. First, remove the tire valve cap, check the tire pressure, inflate the tire, check the remaining tires, and then reset the tire pressure sensor in the car.

Check your tire tread depth to determine if it’s time to replace your tires. Worn tires with no tread left will not handle ice and snow well due to lack of traction, which could be extremely dangerous. Check the tread depth using a tire tread depth gauge. Place the gauge inside one of the center tread grooves in the tire, then press the housing against the tire. Make sure the flange touches the tire’s surface and read the depth of that groove. If the tread depth is 4/32” or less, it is time to replace the tires.

As far as purchasing winter tires or all-season tires, Tim Rodifer, another expert in the auto industry, suggests, “Depending on where you live should impact your decision of using snow (winter) tires or all-season tires. Snow tires are better than all-season tires when driving in icy, snowy winter weather. But, again, depending on where you live, you may also want to consider all-weather tires that can be a good compromise between winter and all-season tires—and you won’t have to switch back to summer tires each spring.”

FAMILY HANDYMAN

Inspect the windshield wipers and top off the windshield wiper fluid

Windshield wipers allow for clear visibility, and you’ll want them working the next time you’re driving through a winter storm. Check your windshield wipers for cracks or broken pieces of rubber. If you find any damage, it’s time to replace them. If the wipers are in good condition but leave streaks on the glass when used, try cleaning the blades.

To clean windshield wiper blades, dampen a clean microfiber cloth with soapy water and wipe down the blades. Rinse off the blades with clean water. Check the windshield wiper fluid reservoir to see if it needs topping off. Buy wiper fluid with de-icer and pour it into the reservoir using a funnel.

Windshield wiper blades should last six to 12 months, depending on weather and other factors. To be on the safe side, you should replace them every six months.

FAMILY HANDYMAN

Inspect the brakes

Car brakes are crucial for safety, especially on roads that are already icy and slippery. Some signs that may indicate you need to replace your brake pads are grinding metal/screeching noises, the brake pad warning light coming on, the brake pedal vibrating while applying brakes, or needing to apply extra force while braking. It’s very important not to ignore signs that your brake pads may need to be replaced because it can lead to worse damage to your vehicle, so have a mechanic inspect your vehicle if you are unsure. Some cars allow you to see the brake pads without removing the tires, while others do not. If you see the brake pads looking very thin, such as less than 3mm – 4mm, or the brake pad indicator slot is no longer visible, bring the car in to be inspected by a mechanic.

When it comes to brakes, Bob recommends, “No matter what the season or weather, if your brakes are noisy, grinding, locking up, brake pedal fading, or just taking longer than usual to bring your car to a stop, it’s time to have them inspected for wear and tear, overheating and glazing. If you find any of these headaches, it’s time to replace the disk brake pads and rotors.”

Check the car’s headlights and other lights

Visibility can be greatly reduced during a snowstorm, so ensuring that your car’s headlights and other lights are functioning properly can help prevent accidents. Start your car and check that all lights are functioning properly, including the headlights, taillights, brake lights, and turn signals.

Vehicles require bulbs of varying sizes, which can be found in the manual or online. Keep in mind that it’s best to replace both headlights, tail lights, brake lights, etc., because if one headlight goes out, the other one will probably also go out soon.

FAMILY HANDYMAN

Check your engine oil

Engine oil naturally degrades over time, so failing to change the oil regularly can cause premature engine wear or permanent damage. Again, no one wants to deal with engine issues in freezing temperatures. The general recommendation is to change your oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles or every three to six months, with twice a year being the minimum.

Newer vehicles generally require oil changes less often than older vehicles, and those using synthetic oil can go longer without a replacement than those using conventional oil. Regardless, you should check your oil at least once a month to ensure it isn’t low or noticeably dirty.

To check oil in a car, lift the hood and find the dipstick, which indicates whether your oil level is optimal or too low. Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean with a paper towel. Reinsert the dipstick and slowly remove it. Read the dipstick by looking at the two indicators at the end of the dipstick to see where the oil level falls. An oil level between the two indicators means more oil needs to be added. An oil level above the two indicators means the amount is fine as is.

FAMILY HANDYMAN

 Put together a winter car survival kit

The last tip is to create your own winter car survival kit to ensure that you are prepared for any unforeseen circumstances. All these items can easily fit into a small plastic storage box in the back of your car. Here’s what you need:

• A candle heater to stay warm
• A flashlight
• Cell phone charger
• Notepad and pen
• Portable air compressor
• Small tool kit
• Safety absorbent (regain traction when you’re stuck on ice)
• Jumper cables
• Foldable shovel
• Fix-a-flat
• First aid kit
• Winter hat and gloves
• Warm blanket

FAQ

How long should I let my car run before I drive it in the winter?

In the event that it is used daily, one to two minutes should be sufficient for the engine fluids to circulate and for the engine to begin warming up.

How long can my car sit in the winter?

Two to three weeks should be fine in most winter climates. However, if you let your car sit for that long, you should let it warm up for at least five minutes before driving it and monitor the tire pressure and battery health.