Preparing your car for winter is more important than you think as winter driving is not very easy. Fog can cause a high number of accidents by creating dangerous driving conditions. The poor weather and fluctuating temperatures even takes a toll on their performance. You will notice that the number of breakdowns increases drastically during the winter months. If you want a smoother running engine, a more fuel-efficient car and improved fuel consumption, take your car to a renowned garage for vehicle maintenance.
4 Easy Vehicle Maintenance Tips For Winter
- Change Oil
Not everyone opting for winter vehicle maintenance is aware of the fact that changing the oil is an integral part of the process. Ask your mechanic whether you can switch from the conventional car oil to the synthetic variety. Starting the engine during winter will become easier if you have full-synthetic oil. They flow freely even at low temperatures and don’t require time to warm up. This keeps the moving parts of your engine protected. If you can’t switch from conventional to synthetic oil, opt for a synthetic blend.
- Maintain Battery
The performance of car batteries deteriorates during summer due to the heat. This weakness shows up even during the cold winter mornings. You will notice that starting the car has become a challenge because of the dead battery. The summer’s heat is considered to be one of the primary reasons why batteries fail in winter. Take your car for vehicle maintenance and they will let you know whether you have to replace the battery. Fresh batteries can also lose power gradually as they have to work really hard during winter.
- Tyre Inspection
Opt for a complete vehicle servicing package and the mechanic will inspect the tyres minutely to check their condition. A new set of tyres will be necessary if the existing ones don’t have sufficient tread depth. The roadway conditions become treacherous during winter and you can deal with the situation only if the tyres have the best traction possible. Whether you will need snow tyres or not is dependent on where you reside.
- Ensure Visibility
If you live in an area which experiences winter snow, make sure that the windshield wipers are working properly. They prevent icy windshield from losing their visibility. You also need to ensure that the taillights and headlights are working. Clean the lenses or replace the bulbs if you notice that the lights have become dim or yellow. If your budget permits, you can even replace the windshield wipers with winter blades during vehicle servicing. The mechanic will also ensure that there is sufficient de-icing fluid in the windshield washer tank.
These being said, it’s time you follow the vehicle maintenance tips stated above and take your car to a renowned garage if you are willing to make it ready for winter.