Car preparation for winter deemed essential to car upkeep, longevity

By Jazmine Knight

With the potential for winter weather in the forecast as many hit the roads for Thanksgiving travel this week, now is the time to make sure your car is ready for harsh conditions.

Steve Snapp, manager of the Quick Lane Tire and Auto Center located at 2203 N. Belt Highway, said there are several things to check before the extreme cold sets in.

“Check your battery. Check your coolant and make sure it’s safe,” Snapp said. “Make sure your washer fluid is full. You need to make sure your tires are in great shape.”

Starting with coolant, Snapp says since most people don’t own a coolant tester, the next best thing would be to take it to a shop.

“Most shops have no problem testing your coolant for free in the wintertime,” he said. Ideally, you want to have your antifreeze at -34 degrees.

“If it tests, I’d say -20 or above. You should probably get your coolant changed because you want it -35 or stronger at this time of year,” said Snapp.

For windshield wipers, there’s nothing worse than being in a snowstorm and your windshield isn’t clear.

“It’s horrible to try to drive like that,” said Snapp. “Pick up your (wiper) arms, run your fingers across them. If you see any tears or rips in your wiper blades, it’s time to change them.”

This also applies when you are using your wipers and see streaks across the windshield. “That is not going to clean now so when it snows, it’s definitely not going to clean them,” he said.

Make sure that you are using a winter washer fluid mix as it is a bit stronger and heavier to protect against the winter air and prevents it from freezing up. In terms of your car battery, the first thing you want to do is test it. Sometimes your battery can have internal problems that you can or can’t see.

“Check is just to make sure you don’t have any corrosion on your battery,” Snapp said. Corrosion is very common and can look like a blueish-green powdery substance that comes from the acid within the battery.

“If you clean it, it’s fine. If you let it go it can actually be corrosion and can eat into your battery terminals,” he said.

Another important part of wintertime car prep is looking at your tires. Residents can use the wear bar indicator to determine when it’s time to replace. “If you can see these bars that are wear bars, you need tires,” Snapp said.

Snapp also advises residents to be aware of their low tire pressure light.

“It’s going to come on,” he said.

For every 10-degree drop in temperature, your tire pressure drops about a pound. However, that’s not an excuse to ignore it. As far as the interior of the car, it’s important to pack essentials in case of an emergency.

Snapp recalls his mom always reminding him to keep a blanket in the car. “I know that sounds weird but if something happens, at least you’re warm,” he said.

Other suggested essentials include gloves, a hat, a change of warm clothes, snacks and don’t forget the ice scraper.