Winter comes every year, and some parts of the nation sadly see colder weather, and snow.  If you’re apart of this region, you’re going to find that winterizing your car will help it last, and run longer.

Start with Your Tires

When winter starts bringing down the temperatures, it’s important to maintain your car for these conditions.  One place to start is with your tires.  Check to make sure your tires are properly inflated.  During the winter months, your tire pressure can drop as much as one pound per every 10 degrees the temperature drops.  Maintaining proper tire pressure throughout the winter is important for both safety and fuel economy.  If you are in place where there’s lots of ice and snow, you may want to consider switching to snow tires.

Check Your Battery

Batteries lose some of their ability to hold a change as they age.  If your battery is over three years old, you should consider having it checked by a trusted repair shop to assess your battery’s condition and even consider swapping out the old for a new one if it’s showing an inability to hold a charge.  You don’t want to go out to start that car and get that unpleasant surprise of a dead battery.

Examine Your Windshield Wipers

Wiper blades wear down over time.  Carefully check the condition of yours.  If they show major wear, you may want to replace them before winter hits hard.

Make Sure Your Fluid Levels are Adequate

Before winter brings all its nastiness, make sure all the fluid levels in your car are topped off.  Running out of window shield wiper fluid at the wrong time is not a nice surprise.  Also check to make sure that you have the best oil for your winter conditions.  Some cars experts suggest that car owners change the viscosity of their oil for driving in certain winter climates.  You should also take a close examination of your antifreeze.  Most car experts recommend that you maintain a 50/50 mix of anti-freeze and water.