5 Tips To Save Your Car From Winter Havoc

The winter season can wreck havoc on one of your most prized possessions: your car. To protect your vehicle from damage, it is important to be prepared. Here is a list of 5 common problems that you may face this winter, along with helpful tips to get back on track so you can win this winter!

Problem #1 : You Have A Dead Battery

It is one of the worst feelings in the world. You come back to your car, you're in no-mans land and your vehicle won't start. Your battery is dead and you can't even find someone to jump it. Don't let this happen to you.

Fix: First of all, make sure that you have a fresh battery in your car. Cold weather affects cc amps, and your car can draw twice as much power when you start in the cold, so it is important to have a relatively new battery. Charging your battery when it is parked at night highly reduces the chance of freezing and is a definitive must.

For battery winterization tips, read this great article from the experts at Interstate Batteries - CLICK HERE

Problem #2: Your Fuel Line Freezes

You are driving down the road, and it feels like you are losing power or worst case scenario, your ride shuts down all together and won't restart. This is not a good feeling!

Fix: Once this issue occurs, one of the few ways to fix it is to get your vehicle inside and let it thaw. To prevent fuel line freezing altogether, fill up your tank at the end of the day. If your tank is full, there is not as much room for condensation to collect. Also, use a gasoline additive with water displacing properties to combat icing.

Here are some suggested products from Coastal Oils and Startron to prevent this problem.

Problem #3: You Are Experiencing Hard Starting

You go to start your car and it is not turning over like it used to. Your engine is working a lot harder to get going, which will lead to draining your battery all the way down so that it won't start at all. This is caused by crystallization in your motor oil. Here is how to stop this from happening.

Fix: The key to avoid hard starting is to use synthetic engine oil. Because of its low temperature flow capabilities, the engine doesn't have to work as hard to turn over. Additionally, oil pumps throughout the engine quicker, providing better protection.

Here are a few suggested synthetic engine oils - CLICK HERE

Problem #4: Coolant Issues

Although it is used for cooling your engine, it's the winter's cold weather that puts the most demand on your cooling system. Frozen lines, leaks and inside heating system issues are all problems created by a poorly maintained cooling system.

Fix: Use an OEM recommended coolant and have your freeze protection level tested and adjusted accordingly. A freeze protection test is easy, inexpensive and simple to do with an antifreeze tester from your local auto parts store.

Here is an example from O'Reilly Auto Parts.

Problem #5: Windshield Wiper Issues

Your wipers have frozen to your windshield! It is bad enough to have to get all of that snow off of your car don't deal with thawing out your wipers.

Fix: Make your windshield wipers last longer by simply lifting them off of the windshield when parking your vehicle for long periods of time or when preparing for bad weather. This tactic keeps the wipers from freezing to your windshield and also makes it much easier to clean them off. Additionally, pay close attention to the windshield washer fluid that you use. There are summer and winter blends of washer fluid. We recommend a winter blend with freeze protection at a minimum of -20 degrees F. For such an inexpensive product, it can cost you a lot of money if you choose the wrong blend. A frozen washer fluid can crack you washer fluid reservoir as well as create a dangerous situation on the road when you can't clean your windshield properly.

Here is the proper winter blend wiper fluid from The PSC Online Store.

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