Winter is in full swing now that the new year has arrived, which means that road conditions are now the stuff of nightmares. Rain, snow, ice, and salt are all potential hazards to be aware of, and protecting your vehicle from the winter elements is the best way to ensure its longevity and safety down the line. Adhering to these 5 tips on how to protect your vehicle during the winter will go a long way toward making that a reality!
Covered Parking:
If you have access to covered parking, use it! Keeping your car covered while parked is essential in protecting it from the cold weather conditions. Additionally, keeping your car in a covered area such as in a covered carport or your garage will make getting into and out of your vehicle a more pleasant experience during the winter months. And if you live in an area where it snows, you can avoid having to scrape built up ice and snow from your roof and windows.
Regularly Washing Your Car:
Salted roads may help with traction, but it’s rough on vehicles of all makes. While it may help to melt the ice on the road, salt eats away at your car’s finish over time. To keep this from causing costly repairs, it needs to be washed off weekly, paying close attention to the wheel wells and the entire area around the tires. This is where the majority of the damage will start to show rust first because those are the areas that take the majority of the exposure while driving.
Windshield Wipers and Washer Fluid:
Windshield wipers should be inspected periodically for cracks or rips in the rubber, especially when the weather starts to change. Winter conditions like snow, ice, and rain, can wreak havoc on your windshield, making it important to replace windshield wipers every 6 months or when they are damaged. You can also replace your normal windshield fluid with washer fluid with antifreeze, which keeps your fluid from freezing.
Change Out Your Tires:
Driving on bald tires regardless of the weather is dangerous, but driving with poor road conditions on those same tires is deadly! Check your tires to make sure the tread is still good, and consider switching your normal tires for winter tires. Winter tires improve your car or truck’s traction, due to their superior tread patterns and softer rubber. This helps the tire to grab the road better, whatever the road conditions.
Driving According to Weather Conditions:
Snow, ice, and rain all make it that much more difficult to stop your vehicle during an emergency. To avoid a dangerous and potentially costly crash, slow down when you know that road conditions are an issue. Breaking suddenly on a slick roadway is a recipe for disaster, and the best way to take care of your vehicle is to keep it free of damage to begin with. Make sure to leave early if you need to get somewhere on a deadline, and leave plenty of cushion for traffic and slowed drive times.
This is where Foreign Autohaus comes in! Schedule an appointment or give us a call if you have any questions about getting your vehicle ready for winter. Foreign Autohaus is conveniently located at 301 Blue Ravine Rd., Folsom, CA 95630. We look forward to serving you and your vehicle soon.
