Anyone who has experienced a true winter has strong memories unique to this time of year. Some are positive: sledding, skiing, wool socks, and some holiday films you remember from the good old days of VHS. Others are not so fun, like cold hands, biting winds, black ice, and driving in the snow. The winter is hard on vehicles and causes its share of car damages, some more preventable than others. Here are a few ways to prevent them from ruining your winter.
Sliding on Ice
If you are driving on slick roads with ice or snow, the chances of getting into an accident are evermore prevalent. Preventing damage caused by sliding on ice is all about preparation and situational awareness.
Firstly, make sure that your tires are prepared for the winter driving. This can be done by purchasing all terrain tires, getting snow tires, putting chains on current tires, or whatever works best for your vehicle. The next best step is to avoid speeding and give yourself plenty of space on the roads during inclement conditions to yourself better control of your vehicle.
Be sure to check the weather when you’re heading out to drive and look out for icy conditions. Be extra careful when driving early in the morning and late in the evening when temperatures drop and roads are more likely to freeze over.
Salt in the Under Carriage
With all of the salt on the roads, the amount of silt collected underneath your car is immense. This buildup can rust and potentially damage crucial pieces of your car. Always be aware and take the time to hose off your car, or brush out any buildup you may see. You may want to consider taking your car to a car wash that can steam clean the carriage. Once your car is cleaned off for the season, get it re-waxed and sealed to prevent further damage.
Windshield Wiper Freezing
To save money, many people use water instead of windshield washing fluid during the summer months. If you do this in the winter, that water will freeze and wreak havoc upon your whole entire wiper system. If you are one of these people, make sure you have no water in your system and get in the habit of using fluid to avoid damage to your wipers during the winter months. Not only is repairing them an extra cost, but if your wipers are damaged during winter weather you’re putting yourself at risk on the roads.
Anti-Freeze Check Up
Anti-freeze is a crucial element in your car’s viability over the frigid winter months. If you are not sure what anti-freeze is, make sure to read up on it. Next, know where to put anti-freeze. You would be surprised by the good-natured drivers who put anti-freeze in their gas tanks by mistake. Please make sure to read the directions and add it to your engine.
Proper Coverage
No matter how prepared you are, accidents are going to happen. If you are concerned about your coverage or will be doing a lot of travel during the winter, consider contacting your insurance provider to be sure that you know what you are covered for. Just confirming policies will make sure none of your additional coverage has expired with the change over to the new year.
No one can predict Mother Nature so the best thing to do is be prepared for whatever she has to throw at you this season. Hopefully, this post does not make you fear driving in the winter. It is completely manageable and doable if the right precautions are taken. If you haven’t already, later is better than never.