Preparing Your Vehicle for the Winter

It’s taken a while, but the cold winter air is finally starting to roll in. In Central Texas, it seems to roll in gradually and fade into hot days, but before you know it we’re slammed with frigid winter air. These temperature fluctuations can take a toll on your car if you haven’t properly prepped it, so we wanted to give you a few quick pointers to help keep your vehicle running smoothly as the weather continues to chill.

First, consider getting winter tires. Many people don’t realized that winter tires have come a long way over the past 20+ years (back when they were called “snow tires”). They were decent for driving in heavy snow, but not so great for normal road usage. These days winter tires do a great job in all kinds of winter weather conditions. Modern all-season tires are decent, but they become inflexible and can’t properly grip the road when temperatures dip below 45°F. It’s better to use tires that are built to handle the harsh conditions winter can bring. If you want to learn more about winter tires, check our blog post here. If you don’t go with winter tires, at least be sure their properly inflated, as pressure tends to drop as the temperature declines.

Next, be sure your fluids are good to go. You’ll want to make sure you have the correct coolants and fluids in your car, along with the correct amount of antifreeze to prevent the coolants from freezing when it gets cold. If you aren’t sure if you have the right fluids for the winter, a Texas Express Lube & Auto advisor would be happy to help.

It’s also important to be sure your belts and hoses are in good shape. Be sure to inspect the drive belts for cracks or fraying. Many newer belts are made of materials that do
not show obvious signs of wear, so it’s important to replace these belts every 60,000 miles or so. Also check the cooling system hoses for leaks and cracks. Squeeze them and replace any that are brittle.

Next up, check your windshield wipers and windshield washer fluid. If your wiper blades are leaving streaks or missing spots, it’s time to replace them. Be sure to Fill the windshield washer fluid reservoir with a winter cleaning solution that has antifreeze components to prevent it from freezing.

There are plenty of other steps you can take, but even just knocking out the above recommendations will ensure your car is much better off as winter rolls in. If you’re not sure your car is properly winterized and you live in San Marcos, Luling or Kerrville, TX, be sure to contact the experts at Texas Express Lube & Auto to have your car properly inspected and maintained. We’d love to hear from you, and we’ll never sell you anything you don’t need.