Winter can be a tough time for cars, with cold temperatures, snow, and ice all taking their toll on your vehicle. Here are a few steps you can take to make sure your car is ready for winter:

1. Check your battery: Cold temperatures can cause car batteries to die more quickly, so it’s a good idea to have your battery tested to make sure it’s in good condition.
2. Change your oil: Cold temperatures can cause oil to thicken, which can make it harder for it to flow through your engine. Consider using a winter-grade oil to help improve your car’s performance in cold weather.
3. Check your tires: Make sure your tires are properly inflated and have enough tread to provide good traction on icy roads. Consider using winter tires, which are designed to provide better grip in cold weather.
4. Check your brakes: Cold temperatures can cause your brakes to become less effective, so it’s a good idea to have them checked to make sure they’re in good condition.
5. Check your windshield wipers: Make sure your wipers are in good condition and are able to clear snow and ice from your windshield effectively.
6. Check your antifreeze: Make sure your car has enough antifreeze to keep the engine from freezing in cold temperatures.
7. Keep an emergency kit in your car: It’s a good idea to keep a few basic supplies in your car in case you get stranded in cold weather. This might include blankets, a flashlight, a first aid kit, and some non-perishable food and water.

By taking these steps, you can help ensure that your car is ready to handle the challenges of winter driving.

• Waxing vehicle protects from harmful contaminants

• Do not forget about maintaining your wheels and tires

• A weekly wash will keep your paint shining all winter

We all know winter can wreak havoc on our vehicles and we cannot escape it, but we can definitely fight back. There are many winter factors that work against your vehicle. Salt and rust have been among the toughest battles since what feels like the beginning of time. Salt is highly corrosive and does not work well with paint and metal. Paint on your car is an obvious one but the rims on your car absolutely take the brunt of brutal winter conditions. Mother Nature can be unforgiving but there are a number of things that can be done to battle back to ensure your car will last for winters to come.

We all love that freshly waxed look. Waxing your car in the off-season is the # 1 way to ensure your paint remains resistant to contaminants. Keeping your vehicle waxed will not only protect it from oxidation but will repel that damaging salt. It is obviously tough to wax a car in the winter, so make sure it gets done sometime in the fall. Most quality waxes will remain effective for an entire year. Waxing your car doesn’t just apply to certain body panels; wax the ENTIRE car. This includes hard-to-reach places such as the roof, side skirts, and rocker panels. Anything that has paint applied to it, wax it. You will be happy you did.

Maintaining your rims is just as important as your paint. These days there are many materials that are used to produce rims for automobiles. Luckily the same process can be used for most materials. Common materials that are on the rims’ surface include steel, chrome, aluminum, and painted surfaces. These will all react negatively with the salt and create oxidation and/or rust. Aluminum rims will corrode and the clear coat will begin to peel further exposing it to contaminants. Painted rims will oxidize and become faded. Waxing both types of rims will protect them through the winter months. To further protect rims there is a little trick to follow. Apply WD-40 to all 4 rims with a towel. DO NOT SPRAY IT. If sprayed it can go through the rim, go straight to the rotor, and negatively affect your braking system. A light coating of WD-40 will ensure an extra slick surface and keep everything looking clean. 

Now that everything is waxed and ready to go, a weekly car wash is a must. Just one storm can cover your car and it is important to clean it as soon as possible. The less time the salt remains on the car, the better. If you choose to wash your car yourself it is easier to clean all the nooks and crevices. Make sure to inspect door jams and the inside of doors to make sure nothing leaked through. The areas most prone to rust are where panels meet and where metal seams exist such as the areas in the wheel wells. Once the paint cracks and exposes raw steel there is not much you can do to stop rust from spreading. It is best to wash your car when the temperatures are above freezing so that the water doesn’t freeze and create problems with any other parts of your vehicle. If you are not one to wash cars in the cold the best option is to take it to the neighborhood car wash. The car wash does a great job but doing it yourself will not only save money, but it will also allow you to access and clean those hard-to-reach areas.