Winterizing Your Car
Although winter invites warm memories of sitting on the couch, wrapped in a soft blanket with a cup of hot cocoa in your hands, it can also make you feel like you’re trekking Mount Everest every time you step outside.
While we can’t control the weather, the Faulkner Honda team is here to teach Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, and Hershey, PA, drivers how to make the best of the season by winterizing their cars.
Read ahead to learn different ways that you can protect yourself and your vehicle.
Check Your Tires
Your tires need to be able to handle thick snow and icy roads, and they can only do that if they have enough tread. You can inspect the tire tread yourself or visit our service center to have vehicle experts do it for you.
In addition to tire tread, you also need to make sure your tires are properly inflated. Colder temperatures cause decreases in air pressure and under-inflated tires are easier to damage than those with proper inflation.
Replace Wiper Blades
If your wiper blades are squeaking or leaving streaks on your windshield, it’s time to replace them in preparation for winter. While you might be able to get away with old wipers in the rain, snow is a whole different beast.
It’s heavy and can cause your wipers to freeze to the windshield. So, you’ll need new wipers that can handle this workload. You can either get regular wipers or opt for heavier winter wipers that withstand the buildup of snow.
Pack a Winter Safety Kit
- Non-perishable food and water
- Bag of sand
- Shovel
- Flashlight
- Ice scraper
A thick blanket and an extra sweater will also serve you well if your battery dies and you need to wait a while for help to arrive.
Top off Your Fluids
Having enough fluids to lubricate the many systems in your vehicle is important during any season, but it’s especially crucial during winter when your vehicle has to work harder.
Not only should you have enough fluids, but you also need the right fluids. For instance, you might need a special engine oil that won’t get too thick in the freezing temperatures.
You can also consider getting windshield wiper fluid with anti-freezing properties to clean your windshield faster and more efficiently.
The engine coolant fluid needs to also be up to par with the freezing temperatures. Ensure that this fluid is clean (or changed if dirty) and fresh enough to do its job.
Get Personalized Winterizing Advice
Do you want additional help winterizing your vehicle? Maybe you want to get a thorough inspection to make sure your whole car is ready for winter.
Whatever you need, the Faulkner Honda time is happy to help you with it. Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, and Hershey, Pennsylvania, residents are welcome to contact us with any questions regarding vehicle winterizing, maintenance, and so much more!
