How to Properly Winterize Your Car

How to Properly Winterize Your Car

Introduction
Winter can be rough on cars, so unless you live in a warm or moderate climate, here's a list of things you can do to make sure your vehicle is ready for the upcoming cold season.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You'll Need

* Gloves
* Blankets
* Windshield Wiper Fluid
* Wiper Blades
* Kitty Litters
* Small Snow Shovels
* Auto Emergency Kits
* Flashlights
* Ice Scrapers
* Tire Gauges

Steps
1
Step One
Don't put off a 30,000-mile full service, if your car is due.
2
Step Two
Flush the cooling system and replace the coolant.
3
Step Three
Replace the windshield wiper blades. Put windshield washer fluid in the windshield washer reservoir (plain water will freeze).
4
Step Four
Have the battery serviced (clean the battery terminal ends and add water) and load-tested to check its ability to hold a charge. If the battery is more than 4 1/2 years old, replace it.
5
Step Five
Use a tire gauge to check the tire pressure. Air contracts with cold, and the tires may become low as the temperature drops.
6
Step Six
Make sure there is air in the spare tire and that all the proper tire-changing equipment is in the trunk.
7
Step Seven
Make sure the tires are in good condition. If you are not sure what this means, ask a mechanic (in a shop that doesn't sell tires) for an opinion.
8
Step Eight
Check the lights, heater and defroster.
9
Step Nine
Keep the gas tank as full as possible to prevent moisture from freezing in the gas lines.
10
Step Ten
Get a brake check if you haven't had one in the last six months.
11
Step Eleven
Put together an emergency winter kit for the trunk of your car: blanket, extra boots and gloves, ice scraper, small snow shovel, flashlight and kitty litter (for traction when stuck in the snow).


For really cold places - For the northern extremes, where you'll be starting the vehicle in colder weather all winter long, you may want to consider getting an engine block heater, a batter heater, and possibly an oil pan heater. These are plugged into an electrical cord, and keep the engine and battery warm enough to start, even when it gets extremely cold. Also, it keeps the exhaust cleaner in the end.