How To Prep your Car for Winter

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Preparing your Car for the Cold

If the temperature drops to below zero where you live, you'll probably need to get your vehicle ready to deal with the cold weather. That will include:

  • Making sure your tires are up to winter driving
  • Windshield wipers can handle the snow and ice
  • Engine oil is fresh
  • Battery can handle the extra cranking to start your car in the freezing cold
  • Keep a winter emergency kit in the trunk, just in case.
Fluid Levels and More
To prepare for winter months, the first thing to do is get your car a quality oil change and new engine filter. You can handle this yourself or take your car to a Lithia Motors Service Center where factory-trained technicians will handle the maintenance of your vehicle. Our techs will change the oil and filter, check all the fluid levels, check the antifreeze (engine coolant level) and windshield washer fluid as well as the wipers themselves. Your service technician will check the conditions of:  
  • Hoses
  • Belts
  • Seals 
  • Battery
No one likes to experience having a dead battery in the middle of winter.

Tires
While your car is in for service, have the tires checked. Our technicians will look at tire wear and tread depth and make sure they are inflated properly. That is very important because tires can lose one pound PSI for every 10 degrees the Fahrenheit drops. Keep an eye on your tire pressure throughout the winter months.
Lights
Snow, sleet, and icy fog makes it really hard to see and navigate. Check your headlights, fog lights, and turn signals. Clean the lenses and change any burnt-out bulbs.

Winter Emergency Kit
It's easy to spin out or get trapped in deep snow. Carry an ice scraper to clear your windows, a snow shovel to help dig yourself out if you get stuck, a bag of kitty litter for traction on icy surfaces, a traction mat to get you out of snow drifts, and a set of snow chains. Dress warm with a hooded winter coat, gloves and boots. Keep a blanket, snacks and bottled water in the trunk in case you get stranded.

Avoid Frozen Doors
We've all come out on frigid mornings to find our car doors frozen shut. The easy way out of this conundrum is to coat all the rubber seals around your car doors with cooking spray. Use a paper towel to wipe away any drips.

Storing your Car in Winter

If you are thinking of putting a car away for the winter months, here is a practical guide to storing your vehicle. First, as with winter maintenance, give the car an oil and filter change and drive it to where you'll be storing it. It's best to have the car sit on a concrete surface. A garage is best. Then give the car a good wash and wax job to protect the exterior for its winter nap. 

Place a rolled-up sock in the exhaust pipe to discourage mice from making a home in your car. Clean out the interior of the vehicle, removing any food or trash that might attract critters. Place a moisture eliminator such as DampRid on the floor inside the car to eliminate cabin moisture. A battery-powered ultrasonic rodent repellent in the engine compartment and another inside the cabin is a good idea too.
Inflate your tires to close to the maximum air pressure because the cold temps will deflate your tires over a few months. Do not engage the parking brake as it can freeze and be difficult to disengage. If you are worried about the car moving, use "wheel chocks" to keep it from rolling. If you are storing the car for an extended period, consider putting the vehicle on "jack stands" to take weight off the tires to avoid flat areas on the tires.

If the car is sitting for more than three months, use a fuel stabilizer because most gasoline has a shelf life of about three months. The fuel stabilizer should be poured into a full tank of gas to prevent corrosion inside the engine and fuel lines. It will also make the car easier to start after its winter nap.

Connect the car battery to a Battery Tender to keep it charged and ready for use. If you are storing the car for a long period of time, remove the car battery and place it on a block of wood in the garage attached to a Battery Tender. Don't let it get too cold as batteries can freeze and crack. Get a Battery Tender that has a "float mode" so that it doesn't overcharge the battery.

Cover it Up
When storing your car for winter it is best to get a high-quality car cover. If storing it outside, make sure the cover is waterproof. We suggest the covers made by California Car Cover that fit the year, make, and model of your car perfectly. Never cover your car in plastic. Before you put the cover on, make sure all the windows are up and the doors are closed and locked. Remove any fixed antenna and store in the trunk.

Waking Up your Car
When Spring returns, remove and fold up your car cover, don't forget to remove the socks from your exhaust pipes and unplug and remove the Battery Tender. Never start up the car with the garage door closed or the car cover partially on. Check all the warning lights and then start the car. Let it sit and idle for several minutes so that it gets up to operating temperature and cycles that fresh oil through the system. You're ready for Spring weather and many warm rides to come.
Let Lithia Help
Let Lithia Motors get your car ready for Winter. With over 300 dealers, state-of-the-art service departments, and ASE-trained service technicians near you, we've got your back… any time of year.