All posts tagged winter auto

Don’t Let It Rust or Bust! How to Take Care of Your Car During a Snowy Winter

by Carsurfer Admin on 2017/10/31 in Auto Maintenance with Comments Off on Don’t Let It Rust or Bust! How to Take Care of Your Car During a Snowy Winter

Winter is the hardest time of the year on cars. Not only are roads often coated in snow or ice, but the salt that is laid down to combat these problems can cause exposed parts of your car to rust. If you want to ensure that your car comes through the coldest part of the year in good condition, there are some basic maintenance steps you need to take. Here are four things you should be doing to take better care of your car in the wintertime.

Put on Snow Tires

The greatest danger to your car during the winter is the possibility of losing traction on snow or ice and running into something. The best way to prevent this from happening is to equip your car with specialized snow tires that will help it grip the road better. Any good tire dealer should have snow tires in all common sizes. Don’t get rid of your summer tires, though, as you can put them back on again in the spring if they’re still in relatively good shape.

Put Something Heavy in the Trunk

Another good way to increase your car’s traction is to put a heavy weight in the trunk. Doing this will increase the downward pressure on the rear axle, making it less likely to slide out on snow or ice. This step is especially important if your car is rear wheel drive. A front wheel drive car will have the weight of the engine positioned over the front axle, keeping it soundly in place. If your car is rear wheel, however, it will have comparatively little normal weight over its drive axle.

Repair All Damage Immediately

If your car does suffer some minor body damage, such as a dent or a significant scratch in the paint, be sure to get it repaired at once. Road salt and moisture will attack bare metal, leading to rust that will then become a much larger problem. Depending on the level of damage, you may have to take it to a professional body shop or a welding repair service. Fixing damage early, though, is well worth it to avoid the future problems it could present.

Wash and Wax Frequently

No matter how careful you are, your car is going to get some salt buildup on its body over the course of a snowy winter. The best step to take to combat this is to have it washed and waxed frequently to remove existing road salt and protect against the effects of new buildup. Ideally, you should take your car through a professional car wash, since the water jets underneath the vehicle will hit areas that would be hard for you to reach otherwise.

Protecting your car during a snowy winter is all about keeping the elements at bay and taking the right precautions. With these tips and a bit of common sense preventative maintenance, you’ll be able to keep your car in great shape through even the worst winters.

Creative Car Care: What to Think About with an Outdoor Car This Winter

by Carsurfer Admin on 2015/01/19 in Auto Maintenance with Comments Off on Creative Car Care: What to Think About with an Outdoor Car This Winter

When the winter months roll around, it is crucial you prepare your outdoor car for the frigid temperatures. After all, the way you would winterize your home or garden, your car needs protection from the weather as well. While it may seem like a hassle at the time, it is definitely worth all the energy, time, and money you’d have to spend otherwise.

Visit Your Mechanic

The first step you should take in preparing for winter driving is taking your car to the local mechanic. There, you should get your battery, brakes, heater, defroster, thermostat, and antifreeze levels checked. Each of these parts of the car are vital for getting around in the winter, and the last thing you want is any of those systems to be malfunctioning. You also want to take a look at your tires. Tires should have a good amount of tread left on them. If they appear worn, though, get rid of them, and put in new snow tires so you have better traction and can take on whatever kinds of severe weather conditions are thrown your way.

Lights

Another important measure you must take is inspecting your automobile’s lights. These lights allow you to see clearly no matter how much snow, hail, and rain is coming down. If they’re not working properly, you’re putting yourself and those you love in harm’s way. As part of this step, you must make sure that both the front and rear lights are in top shape. This includes your car’s flashing hazard lights.

Windshield Fluid

Oftentimes in the winter, the windshield fluid in your vehicle freezes up. While some may choose to just deal with this issue in the spring, you can’t. You need the windshield fluid while driving, so instead exchange the fluid with one that is ideal for freezing conditions. In fact, there are some windshield fluids that are made specifically for spraying in below freezing temperatures.

Locks

Lastly, it’s very common for doors to get frozen shut in the winter months. Not only this, but a lot of times car owners have trouble getting their keys into the locks on the door. To avoid these types of issues altogether, you should hire a locksmith in Newmarket to take a look at your vehicle. This way they can perform the lock services needed so that you experience no difficulty throughout the winter. According to Affordable Lock Services Inc, you can even spray them with anti-freezing agents to get in easier each morning.

When it comes to your car, it is important that you employ the proper care in the winter. This will help you in so many different aspects so your car runs properly. Don’t wait until it’s too late, instead protect your car before anything happens.

How To Keep Your Nice Cars In Good Shape In The Winter

by Carsurfer Admin on 2013/12/16 in Uncategorized with Comments Off on How To Keep Your Nice Cars In Good Shape In The Winter

Winter can be a rough time on cars. Temperature extremes, poor road conditions and the presence of corrosive materials on the roads can all add up to problems. Fortunately, there are a number of things that car owners can do to keep their rides in great shape through the cold months of winter.

Washing and Waxing

Keeping a car washed and waxed does more than make it look good. Washing removes dirt and other debris that can scratch paint and waxing provides a protective layer to protect a car’s finish from damage from sand, cinders and other objects on the road that are thrown up by other cars. Washing and waxing is especially important during the winter months when there is more debris on the road surface that can end up on a car.

Underbody Washing

While maintaining a clean and well waxed exterior is important, winter is also a time to focus on the underbody of the car. Road salt and other corrosive materials are constantly being splashed under a car onto frame components, CV joints, brake lines and other parts. Left alone over time these materials will cause parts to corrode and fail. For this reason, it is important for car owners to thoroughly clean the underbody of their cars during winter. It is important to spray off the bottom of the car as well as focusing on the wheel wells, bumpers and other areas that collect debris.

Tires

If a car owner plans to drive his or her car during the winter months, a tire inspection is mandatory. Tires should have at least 50% of its original tread depth for safe winter driving. An even better idea is to purchase winter tires to be used only during the cold months. Studded tires are still available in most areas, but modern winter tires that do not use studs perform better in most winter driving conditions. Car owners who choose to buy winter tires can have them taken off when warm weather returns in the spring and stored until next winter.

Storage

Car owners who want to protect their cars from all of the problems that winter can present should consider renting storage units to protect their car during the cold months. This is a particularly good idea for those people who do not have access to off street parking. Parking on the street in winter is especially hazardous for a nice car as snow plows, sliding cars and the splash of salty street slush provides an unending array of hazards for a parked car.