How to Winterize Your Car
How to Winterize a Used Car: Winter will be here again transforming everything into a mess of ice, snow, salt and gridlock traffic as per usual. While weather is holding in Ontario, might be a good time preparing your used car for winter.
Winterize Used Car Ontario: Winter Tires
Winter tires should be first on the list in Ontario, very important for winter driving and safety. Snow and ice reduce tire traction and your ability to stop the car should be a primary concern.
Winter tires are specifically designed for snow and ice conditions. Below is an example from a BMW information screen with their recommendations regarding winter tire tread depth.
Winter tires while an extra expense and hassle (switching tires, storage) will make a fundamental difference in daily winter driving.
Consider buying a set of separate wheels for your winter tires, black steel rims will do just fine for winter driving. Although you will spend more on initial purchase, you will save money every year when switching from winter to summer configuration. You will not have to pay for removing, installing and balancing tires every season.
More on Winter Tires vs All Season Tires.
Winterize a Car Ontario: Visibility
Clear visibility is paramount to safely drive a car in winter conditions. Check your windshield wiper blades and replace them if needed. Check rear window defrosters and heated mirrors while at it.
Air conditioning is not a must in winter but is necessary in some occasions when humidity is high to prevent fog. A/C will help eliminating foggy windows and keep them clear of fog. You can recharge your Air Conditioning yourself if low on refrigerant, How To Recharge A/C.
Winterize Your Car: Fluids
Check coolant and oil level in your used car and top off as necessary. Make sure wipers and washer spray nozzles are working properly. Fill up windshield washer fluid reservoir and keep reserve washer fluid in your car.
Winterize a Used Car Ontario: Battery
Winter in Ontario is hard on batteries. Usually a weak battery will work normally in summer time but will give up the ghost when cold weather starts. If you have any doubts about your battery, buy a new one and replace it prior to winter. Otherwise have a mechanic check your car battery condition.
You can also test your used car battery condition yourself, its not difficult to do: How To Check Battery.
Winterize a Used Car: Rustproofing
Salt (or whatever chemicals they are spraying these days in Ontario) will cause rust and corrosion to your car. Rustproofing helps prevent corrosion on undercarriage and body by creating a barrier between elements and exposed metal. Rustproofing should be done before winter starts.
More details here on Rustproofing
Car Tune-Up
Modern cars do not really need any Tune-ups anymore apart from oil changes and spark plugs every 4 years or so. However, if you have a check engine light, Abs or other warning lights in your used car, try to finish repair before winter starts.
Cold weather will worsen problems and you don’t want to get stuck waiting for a tow truck on a -20 Celsius day. A small investment prior to winter might be worth it.
Roadside Kit
Keep a roadside kit on your trunk all the time, especially in winter. Check your spare tire and keep it inflated ( hopefully your car has a spare tire, as new cars are starting not to bother with it anymore).
If you got time (or nerves to do it) then wax your car, will help protect a used car paint from elements and salt. Spray locks and hinges with locks lubricant to prevent freezing and use a silicon based spray for rubber seals of your car. If possible, a folding snow shovel it’s not a bad idea either…you never know.
(If you are also looking for a fast and easy solution to sell your car, more here on “How To Sell Your Car Fast In Ontario” )
Comments: If you have any questions or suggestions related to this post or Used Car Toronto in general, don’t hesitate to use comment section below.
