The Winter is fast upon us, and if you’re looking to tune up your car for this Winter, it’s not too late to start now.  I wanted to create a checklist for you, that can make the process a lot easier.  This way, you don’t have to go out, and have a professional do this all for you.

• Get bi-weekly car washes:  It’s important to keep your finish looking great.  With all of the salt, and snow getting on your car, it’s essential to keep the finish looking great, and clean.
• Store your car in a garage:  If possible, try and keep your car in a garage during the colder months.  I can understand if you live in an apartment community, or a place without a garage, but if you have a habit of parking outside, try and park the car inside, so that you can protect the vehicle’s engine, and body from the extreme temperatures.
• Keep up with the oil changes:  Oil changes are always essential, and it’s important that you keep your oil changes up to date.  Make sure that you don’t let the oil changes go over 3,000 – 5,000 miles.  If you fail to keep up to date, you can severely damage your engine.
• Replace your filters:  Make sure that you check your air filters.  It’s fairly simple to check your air filters, and they can be purchased online, or at your local parts store.
• Inspect your brakes:  Since you’re going to be using your brakes a lot more in the Winter months, it doesn’t hurt to take your car down to the shop to get them checked out.
• Keep Antifreeze around:  Antifreeze, just like your brakes, is going to be used a lot.  If you live in the colder climates, where salt is always on the road, you will find that during the “slushier” days, you’re going to get a lot of junk on your windshield.  It’s important that you keep some in your trunk, just in case you need it in the future.

It’s really not that hard to keep your car up to date.  Make sure that you give your car a tune up at least every season to be safe.  A healthy car, is going to be a happy car that will last a very long time.