Vehicle Winter Maintenance Near Grandview Plaza, KS

When the weather starts to get cold, it’s important to remember to keep your faucet running at night so that your pipes don’t burst. You might have a routine for cold weather when it comes to maintaining your house, but it’s important to have the same mindset for your vehicle. While your car is designed to deal with some pretty rough conditions, the cold winter wind can still pose some significant problems. If you want to make sure that you’re ready for this year’s weather, you can visit us at D.E.L. Motors.

The First Steps for Winter Maintenance

There are a lot of ways to get ready for the winter, but you can start with:

• Checking Your Fluids: Before winter hits, you might want to take care of some of your routine services. It’s always smart to check on your oil, your coolant, and your windshield wiper fluid before it gets cold. If you’re near Abilene, Junction City, or Salina, we can take care of your vehicle at D.E.L. Motors.
• A Battery Inspection: Your battery isn’t going to function as well in cold temperatures, so you could have a harder time starting your vehicle. If your battery is getting old, you can have a mechanic check it with a voltmeter. This way, you’ll know whether or not you actually need a replacement. There’s nothing worse than being stuck in the cold with a car that won’t start.
• A Brake Inspection: While your brakes generally do well in cold weather, you should check that they’re in great shape before you’re dealing with icy conditions. This way, you can always come to a safe stop.

Get Your Winter Gear

You might want to consider changing out certain parts of your vehicle before winter hits so that you’re better prepared. If you plan on driving a lot, it’s important to have the right equipment.

• The Right Tires: It’s important that you routinely check up on your tires. Winter tires are recommended as they’re specifically designed to deal with frigid conditions. You might be able to get away with all-season tires, but they aren’t going to fare as well as winter tires would. You should also routinely check your tire pressure when it’s cold out, as you might be surprised by just how quickly it changes.
• The Right Windshield Wipers: Different windshield wipers are designed with varying durability and toughness. Winter wipers are made in a way that keeps ice from forming on the rubber, so you should have a clear view of what’s ahead.

Preparing for the Future

So far, everything above has been focused on your vehicle, but there are some other things that you might want to consider.

• How Do You Drive?: When your car starts to slide, you’re going to have a few seconds to react, at most. Before you get back on the road, you should make sure that you know what to do when you’re heading uphill or when you’re met with icy conditions.
• Pack a Safety Kit: If your car refuses to start and you’re in the middle of nowhere, you’re going to need a game plan. You might want to consider packing a winter safety kit. This can include everything from food to jumper cables. It’s recommended that you pack extra antifreeze, water, an ice scraper, and warm clothing.

If you’re trying to make sure that you’re prepared, you can schedule a service for your vehicle at D.E.L. Motors.