How To Winterize Your Car

Many people love winter because they associate it with the holiday season. Although it can make a positive impact on your mood, your car would not like it—for good reason. The cold can make it harder for your car's engine to start. Your tires do not have as much traction because of the snow and ice. Your wheels and tires suffer from porthole damage. Salt from the snow can cause rust and peel the paint off your car.

So if you are the proud owner of car, here are some tips on how to winterize your car.

1. Go for an oil change. Not all oils are created equal. During winter, your car should be fed with oil that have just the right viscosity—READ THICKNESS—at this time of the year. It goes without saying that your oil should not be too thick; otherwise it will not really perform its job that is to keep your car's engine lubricated.
2. Check your windshield wiper and wiper fluid. If the blades of your windshield wiper are more than a year old, throw it away. Buy and install new ones. It would not serve you well to find out that your windshield wiper is not doing its job during a snowstorm. As for your wiper fluid, make sure you that it is not running on empty.
3. Have your battery tested. If your batter is at least 3 years old, take it to certified automotive repair facility. You do not want you battery, whose power is reduced by 50 percent during the cold weather, to go dead while you're in the middle of a snowstorm. If they are younger than that, make sure that the battery's posts and connections are free of corrosion. Also, make sure that your battery has all the water it needs.
4. Give your tires a thought. Are you tires properly inflated? If they are not, make sure that they are. Wet and icy road conditions jeopardize your tire's traction and you can avoid having poor traction by having properly inflated tires. Also consider using snow tires to improve traction. You do not want to put your life at risk by penny pinching on good tires.
5. Inspect the belts and hoses. Cold weather accelerates normal wear and tear so it is wise to have yours checked before the winter sets in. Do not take comfort in the fact that modern cars have belts and hoses that lead long lives.
6. Make sure that ration of antifreeze and water in your radiator is 50:50. You can check this ratio using an antifreeze tester that you cab buy in an auto parts store. Keep in mind that water freezes—having a high water composition will put you radiator, and your life, in serious risk.
7. Prepare an emergency winter kit. Take the Boy Scouts motto and always be prepared for the worst scenarios. Have a bag handy that has a flashlight, flares, a first aid kit, a blanket, warm clothes, and gloves. Also include jumper cables, a tool kit, tire chains, and extra washer fluid. Do not forget food and water.