Top Five Tips to Maintain Your Car in the Winter

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Carwash Association. The opinions and text are all mine.

 

It may not snow here in Florida but we get our fair share of bad weather. Many months out of the year we have hurricane season which means it rains for days with no end in sight.  Ice, rain, snow and freezing temperatures can wreak havoc on your car. To keep your family safe on the slippery roads this winter, it’s important to take a few simple winterization steps.  According to the International Carwash Association, proper maintenance can also go a long way in helping preserve the investment in your vehicle.

car maintenanceSwitch engine oil: Oil lubricates the engine so it can function properly, but not all automobile oil is the same. If you live in a cold climate, consider switching to a thinner, less viscous oil. For example, a 10W-30 might be ideal for hot summer weather, but a thicker 5W-30 is better for when temperatures dip below freezing. Best thing to do is to ask your auto mechanic what is recommended and refer to the manufacturer’s manual for more insight.

 

Maintain a car wash routine: Due to the presence of ice, salt and sand on the roads, washing your vehicle in the winter is even more important than the summer. Getting a car wash and a fresh coat of wax before the temperature begins to drop can be your first line of defense against winter elements. Vehicular corrosion occurs most quickly when the temperature rises and falls below freezing. The International Carwash Association recommends finding a car wash that is part of the WaterSavers program. There are more than 1,500 environmentally friendly car washes worldwide enrolled in the program that meet water quality and usage standards.  These car washes use 40 gallons (151.5 liters) or less of fresh water per car. 

car maintenance

Check the battery: Cold weather can take a toll on your car’s battery. Before you get stranded, give your battery a once-over to make sure it’s in tip-top shape. Check cables, terminals and fluid and look for anything abnormal. If you are not comfortable with checking your battery some battery retailers will conduct a complementary car battery assessment if you’d prefer an expert analysis.

 

Update engine coolant: Just because it’s chilly doesn’t mean your engine can’t overheat. Protect your engine against corrosion and to help ensure it doesn’t overheat, ask your car technician to change to a coolant with ethylene glycol which has antifreeze properties. 

 

Get a grip on tire safety: If you live in an area where winter means driving in snow and ice, it’s critical to check your tires to keep you and your passengers safe. Each tire should have an adequate amount of tread to properly grip the road. You can easily see if new tires are needed with the penny test by simply holding a penny head down in the center tread. If you see the top of Lincoln’s head, you have less than 2/32-inch tread and it’s time for new tires.  Be sure to your tires are properly inflated to ensure optimum handling, safety, and fuel efficiency.

car maintenance

Taking the time to properly winterize your car not only ensures the comfort and safety of you and your family but also helps you maintain the value of your car for many winters to come. For more information visit Wash With Water Savers.

 

Water Savers is offering one of my readers a large travel bag, $30 Visa Gift Card and a compass / flashlight key chain. Enter to win these great prizes by entering on the below Rafflecopter form to enter for a chance to win.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  Open to the US  ages 18+.    

 

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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Carwash Association. The opinions and text are all mine.   Mama to 5 Blessings is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.    

 

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Carwash Association. The opinions and text are all mine.


Comments

  1. The weather here now is icy cold and raining. I always check tire condition and pressure in the fall, oil change, check/change other fluids. Make sure my 4-wheel drive is still working so when the snow hits, I am not stuck πŸ™‚

  2. The weather right now is rainy and 40 degrees, and I make sure to have my snow tires on and have my windshield wipers in good condition and I had my coolant checked to make sure that it is good enough for the cold weather ahead!

  3. It’s going to be in the 70’s this weekend, so the weather is pretty good. My husband checks tire pressure.

  4. I commented on this blog post
    Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup #ComfortFood

  5. Debbie E Johnson says:

    The weather here right now is unbelievable. We are expected to break a hundred year record. Almost 70 degrees. I love it.

  6. The weather is rainy and 55 degrees. I check the tires and change oil

  7. We’re having record high temps for this time of year. This weekend our temps will be in the 70’s and sunny!
    To prepare for winter driving, we make sure our tires have lots of tread and don’t need replacing.

  8. 40 degrees weather here, we check the tire pressure and make sure heaters, defrosters and wipers work properly.

  9. Jessica To says:

    We were in the 60’s today and beautiful out. I get my oil changed and my truck inspected.

  10. steve weber says:

    the weather is low 40s.. windy, but not too bad.

    my card is in great shape since it’s a 2014– i just change the fluids and check tire pressure.

  11. I live in MN so usually the weather is cold and snowy, but it has been in the 40s the past week. I put on snow tires and change my oil.

  12. here in NH right now the weather is unseasonably warm. no snow yet. i don’t do much to maintain my car for winter driving.

  13. Our winters are mild. I do check our tires, though.

  14. Sarah Hayes says:

    its not too cold here yet. I make sure to get my car checked out before the really cold weather comes in. i check my tires and make sure the heater is good

  15. Leigh Anne Miller Borders says:

    We are in the 60s and 70s in Georgia. It is sunny right now;)

  16. shelly peterson says:

    I make sure to have good tires, good wipers, check fluids and battery. Today it rained some and temp is 36 right now.

  17. Audra O'Hara says:

    I’m in western NC, so we typically get snow several times a month in the winter. We also have icy roads. We like to make sure our tires are in good condition. We also try to keep a full tank of gas; just in case of getting stranded somewhere in the snow.

  18. Thanks for the safety tips. I just got my oil changed today, tire pressure checked, and washed my car too!

  19. I’m in PA and it has been extremely warm for us. We had a few cold days, but nothing like it should be around now. Even have people growing food and flowers in their garden!

  20. Thankfully for me, the weather is warm here in south Florida year round. I’ve lived up north though and it wasn’t pretty driving in the winter. I keep my car’s oil changed regularly and I make sure the tread on the tires is good. I also take the car in for regularly scheduled maintenance.

  21. Here in Oklahoma the weather is 40s-60s. We don’t have to worry too much about cold but an occasional ice storm does come through. I make sure to keep my oil changed and check my tires and brakes before the winter season.

  22. Julie Lundstrom says:

    I live in Minnesota so we have winter. Freezing cold, snow and ice. We pack an emergency kit with an extra blanket, granola bars, flashlight, kitty litter, window scraper and a shovel.

  23. I live in Knoxville, Tennessee. Today it was really cold and was flurrying a little bit! I just make sure to change my oil when I am suppose to and go get things checked out as problems arise.

  24. The weather right now is more mild than it should be for this time of year. I always get my oil changed and check the fluids before winter.

  25. Marcia Goss says:

    Here in Georgia it is sunny, but cold today. We don’t get real winter weather down here, but my husband takes care of our car by changing the oil regularly and making sure the windshield cleaner reservoir is full.

  26. Here in the Green Mtns. of Vt. it usually starts snowing in November & doesn’t stop much before late March (this year is a lot different though). Regular oil changes, & twice yearly tires do the trick.

  27. We usually have snowy winters here in New England (though not this winter!) so we would switch to snow tires and check the fluids.

  28. Lisa Brown says:
  29. The weather here is pretty mild generally. Lately it has been very wet and warm. We check do the usual checks, always keep windshield wiper fluids full.

  30. Betsy Rubendall Barnes says:

    Today, it has been raining, temperature around 56 and a bit muggy. We usually have snow, but it has been very warm and rainy/ To keep our truck running smooth, we get the oil changed every 3,000, check the fluids and change the filters πŸ™‚

  31. Regular check ups and oil changes are a must. We’re having a super mild December. No snow yet!

  32. Right now it’s actually pretty warm considering it’s Winter. I keep my car in good healthy by taking it for a yearly check.

  33. Kim Henrichs says:

    Right now it’s just cold, no snow thankfully. I do regular tire rotation and oil changes and keep an emergency winter kit in my trunk!

  34. Marissa M says:

    The weather has been much warmer than usual! We are constantly checking out our car in order to keep it working well!

  35. Our weather here is amazing for wintertime. It has been in the 60’s just the past week. Otherwise we usually have snow ice and alot of wind. We keep our cars in good shape with oil changes when they need them and regular checkups. My husband is a handy man. πŸ™‚

  36. Cold, only a little snow, not bad for January 2nd. My husband looks after our cars very well. Does the oil changes, tire rotations, everything. Needless to say, we don’t need a mechanic very often.

  37. It is about 30 F with some snow and rain. I just got winter tires and new brakes to be winter ready.

  38. Katherine Riley says:

    We live in southwest Ohio, so far the winter has been mild. We take our cars to a local mechanic to check out our vehicles before winter.

  39. The weather is still pretty warm where I am. We always make sure to check our fluids.

  40. Annette H says:

    Our winter weather is typically lots of snow (100+ inches yearly) and very cold (often below zero). We have a maintenance check in the fall.

  41. Angela Newsome says:

    It’s been really nice weather this winter! Sunny and above average temps. They say snow is on the way though! My husband takes care of all my car checks! He’s my mechanic!

  42. ellen beck says:

    The weather here is cold ans snowy. Making sure the battery is in good shape and antifreeze is good is important for us. Also watching tire pressure is important.

  43. Barbara Montag says:

    Our weather in MN has been unseasonably warm.
    Not much rain or snow.
    To keep our car running well we make sure our snow tires are in good shape.
    thank you

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