Top 5 Winter Car Maintenance Tips + Giveaway!

I have a love/hate relationship with winter. My favorite holiday is Christmas, and as a southern girl, I love what little snow we get. But after the holidays, and after a few lovely days of snow, I’m done. I don’t like the dreary cold, I don’t like ice, I don’t like the watery eyes I get from winter winds, I don’t like the chapped lips….you get the idea. Winter has a couple of nice points, but overall it’s just a difficult season.

We all know winter is rough on people, but it’s important to remember that it’s also rough on cars. From performance to safety to appearance, winter weather can really mess with your vehicle. With winter really gearing up (pun intended), I thought I’d share some handy tips to help “winterize” your car, courtesy of WaterSavers, the environmentally-friendly car wash!

Snow in Tennessee – even southern drivers need to be winter-ready!

1. Oil

Staying on top of your scheduled oil changes is a necessity that needs no explanation, but did you know that winter weather can actually affect the oil in your car? Oil’s purpose is to lubricate your vehicle’s engine, and as you might imagine, that won’t work so well if your oil gets incredibly viscous and “goopy.” Like many fluids, oil gets thinner in heat and thicker in cold. (Think: honey, caramel, queso dip (yum) – anything that gets thick in the fridge and thins out when you heat it). For those of you in cold climates, ask your mechanic or consult your owner’s manual to find out which type of oil is best for your car in the winter, as you’ll likely want to switch to a thinner, less viscous formula until the weather warms up.

2. Washing

I don’t have to tell you how much damage cars can sustain thanks to ice, salt, and sand on winter roads. Vehicle corrosion is a big deal, and while we can’t really avoid what we encounter on the road, we can definitely be proactive in defending against it. Before the roads get nasty, get a good wash and a fresh coat of wax to set up your first line of defense against the elements. As your drive throughout the season, you’ll want to maintain a car wash routine to keep your car free from corrosive deposits (and to keep it looking pretty!). When you’re looking for a car wash, may I recommend one that is part of the WaterSavers program? You’ll find them all across the country, and the environment will thank you. WaterSavers car washes use 40 gallons of water or less per car; to put that in perspective, the average home washing machine uses up to 45 gallons per load, and using a garden hose to wash your car at home will cost upwards of 60 gallons of water every five minutes. At less than 40 gallons per car, WaterSavers helps you keep your car shiny and clean all winter without guilt. There are over 1,500 car washes nationwide participating in the WaterSavers program, and you can find one near you here.

3. Battery

I never realized how much cold weather can affect a car battery, but it certainly can. Before the weather gets colder, take some time to evaluate your battery. Even if it’s brand new, you’ll want to make sure to check all the cables, terminals, and fluids to look for anything out of place. Pay particular attention to any corrosion or build-up you might see on the terminals, because the amount of “juice” in your battery means nothing if the connection is poor. It’s much more convenient to make those checks at home than when you’re stranded in a parking lot or on the side of the road. If you’re not sure what to look for or would just like a professional opinion, most battery retailers will offer a complementary battery assessment to make sure everything is in good shape.

4. Coolant

It seems like an oxymoron, in a way, but coolant is just as important in the winter as it is in the summer. Cold weather doesn’t eliminate the possibility that a car can overheat! You can protect your engine from corrosion and make sure it doesn’t overheat by changing your coolant to one featuring ethylene glycol (it has antifreeze properties). When changing your coolant at a dealer or maintenance shop, you should also take that opportunity to have them check all the fluids in your car and top them off if necessary. Don’t forget window washer fluid! And if you’re dealing with antifreeze at home, make sure to keep it in a safe place away from pets and other neighborhood animals.

5. Tires

No matter how clean and maintained you keep your car, you can’t control the weather. As much I like to sit inside with blankets, books, and hot chocolate, unfortunately I can’t hibernate all winter, and that means I have to drive in bad conditions at times. It’s important to keep a frequent check on your tires to make sure you’re driving safely. The treads on your tires must be good enough to properly grip the road, especially when dealing with slick surfaces. To easily check your treat, you can use a penny: slide your penny head-down in the center tread. If you see the top of Lincoln’s head, you have less than 2/23r d-inch tread, which means it’s time for new tires. You’ll also want to keep an eye open to make sure your tires are properly inflated and maintain correct tire pressure. This will ensure optimum handling, safety, and even fuel efficiency!

Snow and ice at 2,216 ft. – not a fun day to be on the road.

All these tips were great reminders for me, as the worst of winter is on its way and my forgetfulness in terms of car maintenance is legendary. I’m making time this weekend to winterize my car and go to my local WaterSavers-participating car wash, and I encourage everyone to take a few minutes to do the same. If you’re planning to travel for the winter holidays, it’s even more important to stay on top of winter car safety; put car winterization at the top of your holiday To Do list and you’ll be ready to head over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house.

To make your holiday road trip even better, we have an awesome giveaway from WaterSavers! One lucky reader will win a large travel bag, a $30 Visa gift card, and a key chain featuring a compass, a whistle, and a flashlight! Make sure to enter the contest below, and I wish you all good luck and happy travels! (Giveaway is open to US residents who are 18 and older. Ends 12/30/15.)