How to Prepare Your Care for Winter

How to Prepare Your Car for Winter Step a Check your tires Wet or icy roads are dangerous! Make sure you have adequate tread on your tires and check their pressure. If you live in an area that sees a high amount of snowfall, consider snow tires, which are made of cold-resistant rubber and have deeper treads. Step 2 Change your oil Cold temperatures cause oil to thicken, which can prevent it from lubricating your engine, causing damage. Fill your engine with an oil of lower viscosity. The number before the W represents viscosity, so 5W-30 has a lower viscosity than 10W-40. Check your owner's manual for the right type. 5W-30 Step 3 Wax your car Moisture and road salt are a corrosive combination, and will eat away at your paint. Since paint protects your car's body, once it's gone the aluminum underneath can become damaged. Giving your car a wax job is the best way to protect it from corrosive materials. Step 4 Wiper blades Regular wiper blades struggle with snow and ice. Switch to winter wiper blades to ensure visibility. Wiper fluid can freeze and will be unable to' spray. Switch to a winter wiper fluid that won't freeze. Step 5 Belts & hoses It never hurts to take your car in for a tune-up, particularly just before the hard winter months. Make sure your engine's belts and hoses are in good condition. These become more brittle in the cold and are more likely to snap or break. Step 6 . Add antifreeze Your car's coolant system isn't there just to keep your engine from overheating: it also prevents interior corrosion. If your coolant freezes, your engine could be damaged. ANTIFREEZE Replace your coolant with one that has a proper mix of antifreeze and water (50/50). Step 7 Fill your tank During the winter, moisture can build up in your gas tank and corrode the metal inside. If this moisture freezes, you could experience heavy damage. Prevent this by always keeping your tank above half full. The gasoline will absorb any moisture before it builds up. Things to Pack Gloves Ice Scraper Snow Shovel Tire chains SAND KITTY LITTER ROAD SALT Kitty litter, road salt, or sand Sources: Brought you by: http://www.today.com/id/15940164/ns/today-money/t/simple-ways-get-your- car-ready-winter http://www.weather.com/activities/driving/drivingsafety/drivingsafetytips/ winterize.html SpareFoot LiululblJ