Winter is approaching, which means snow, ice, and a lot of salt on the roads. Protecting your car entails more than just removing snow and allowing it to warm up before driving. In fact, winter can cause a number of issues with your vehicle that you do not want to deal with. A few simple tips on how to protect your car in the winter will keep it running smoothly for a long time.
Park Your in a Garage or Carport
During the winter, keep your car covered in a carport or garage to protect it from the cold and snow. If you despise having to clear your car in the morning after a snowfall, parking it under a cover will save you the trouble. Allowing snow to accumulate on your vehicle adds weight, which makes your engine work harder and reduces performance.
You might also think of winter car shelters that are a great alternative to garages since they can cover your car during the winter even if your house doesn’t have a garage. However, you must avoid letting your car outside during the winter.
Wash your Car More Than Ever
The salt used to melt ice on roads can damage the finish on your car. Salt slowly eats away at the finish, so it’s critical to wash it off on a weekly basis. Because the wheel wells and areas around the tires absorb the most salt during winter driving, they will be the first to show signs of rust. If your car already has some rust spots, salt will enhance the size of them, and you’ll have to do the whole painting process in the end, which is costly for your time and money.
Drive Safely and Only When Needed
Snowy and icy roads are slick and make it more difficult to stop quickly in an emergency. When the situation calls for it, slow down. You never know when you’ll need to hit the brakes hard to avoid an accident. The best way to take care of your car is to avoid damaging it, so avoid being in a hurry and slow down in bad weather.
Opt for Winter Tires
In the winter, roads become icy and slippery. Even if they try, the road crews responsible for clearing the roads will never be able to remove all the ice. A good set of winter tires will help improve the traction of your car or truck. Winter tires have better tread patterns and are constructed of softer rubber. These two characteristics aid the tire’s grip on the road, whether there is snow or not.
Use Litter
This may appear strange, but it works. If your windows have ever iced over on the inside, this trick will prevent it from happening again. In the car, keep a sheer stocking or pantyhose full of kitty litter. The litter keeps moisture at bay in the car, preventing fogging and icing on the inside of the windows. If you get stuck, the kitty litter can also come in handy. Spread the litter under your tires to improve traction on an icy patch.
