How to Help Your Car Recover from Winter

3/10/2016

Your car has battled snow, ice, salt and potholes for months on end. Needless to say, some TLC is definitely in order to help your car recover from winter. Here are eight areas of your car you’ll want to check (or have checked) now that winter’s in the rearview mirror.

Tires. Now is the time to swap your snow tires for your all-season tires. If you kept your all-season tires on all winter, you’ll want to have them rotated. That’s because the drive wheels get worn down faster in all conditions, but especially in harsh winter conditions. By having them regularly rotated (about every 3,000 to 6,000 miles), they will more evenly distribute the wear-and-tear and extend the life of your tires.

Also, if you’re keeping your all-season tires on all year, make sure to check the tire pressure. Cold air lowers tire pressure, which reduces the traction your tires have with the road. The tire pressure may have improved automatically when the weather warmed up, but it’s still best to check. (If one tire is particularly low, it could mean there’s a puncture or leak.)
Windshield wiper blades. Your wiper blades were probably working overtime removing snow and slush off your windshield. That, along with the fact that cold temperatures wear down blades, means you’ll want to inspect them in the spring. Replace them if they look worn, squeak or don’t completely clear water off your windshield.
Body of the car. The salt used on winter roads can corrode your car, which can cause rust to form. This is especially true when it comes to the car’s underbody.

Get things under control by taking your car to a car wash that has high-pressure regular and under-sprays. It will clear off the salt, which will let you inspect your car for any small pits and bubbles that could be the start of a rust spot. Definitely take your car to a shop if you notice the beginnings of a rust spot. Before next winter, you might also want to stop back to have your car pre-treated with an oil solution under-spray that will help resist winter road salt damage.
Brakes. Brakes work harder in the winter, so it’s a good idea to give a close listen to them. If they make any strange noises, take your car to a pro ASAP. You might also consider having your brake pads and drums checked, especially if your car is on the higher end of the mileage spectrum. It’s easy to become used to the feel of worn brakes.
Fluids. It’s important to check your car’s fluid levels since cars tend to use more fluids in the winter. Have a pro check your brake, oil, windshield, coolant, battery and transmission fluid levels. Also ask him or her to test your battery’s charge since extremely cold temperatures can take a toll on batteries. (Some auto supply stores will test your battery for free–call ones in your area to find out of they offer complimentary service.)
Engine air filter. A clean engine air filter helps the engine take in fresh, clean air. If it’s clogged, the engine has to work harder. That can lower your fuel economy, so make sure to replace your engine air filter about every 15,000 miles.
Interior of car. Now is the time to wash the floor liners, vacuum and clean out any trash that’s accumulated. You might also consider applying a protective dressing to the interior vinyl to give it a barrier against the sunshine-filled days ahead.
Alignment. Potholes can knock your car out of alignment. If your car pulls in one direction instead of maintaining a straight path, it could be out of alignment. Have a pro check its alignment if that’s the case. (Also check in with your state or city to see if they accept pothole claims for damage your car sustains on a state or city roadway.)

Next, learn how you can help your home recover from winter.
- See more at: https://www.erieinsurance.com/blog/2014/car-recover-from-winter?utm_source=eriefacebook&utm_medium=eriesocial&utm_campaign=general#prclt-df0r61O1

5 Comments

Kevin wilson link

11/26/2017 11:32:28 pm

Nicely written and useful article. Cars are nothing but machines and hence affected by the extreme temperatures and needs extra maintenance during these time periods. The tips you have given in this article are very helpful for recovering the cars from extreme cold temperature. Tire pressure should be checked at a regular interval as they are they are fluctuates according to the surrounding temperature. And tire tread depth should be checked and if necessary should be replaced by winter tires, as they can produce better traction on the snowy surface than any other ordinary tires. Wiper blades if affected by the extreme cold temperature and should be replaced with a rubber wiper blade in order to increase the functionality of the wiper blade. And de-icing spray should be used to remove ice from the windshield.

Anita layman link

2/7/2018 11:07:09 pm

Winter affects the vehicle in a very diverse way. With the end of winter months, vehicle needs proper maintenance to overcome the adverse impacts of the winter and the above article provides some very important information regarding the post-winter maintenance of the vehicle.

Siyabonga Dalf

3/27/2018 04:21:18 am

Colder weather condition are very unpredictable. So it is good to keep your car in proper maintenance. The four most important components should be checked during winter are battery, windshield wiper, antifreeze level and your car's engine. Battery is an essential components as it provide power to all electrical components but in chill weather the battery needs more power to start your car. Before planning any trip in winter be sure your battery, charging system, and belts checked properly, also check they are working in order. Checking your windshield wiper is also necessary before the weather go terrible. Hence inspect windshield wiper blades are in good condition or not. Fill your windshield wiper fluid once in a year.

Siyabonga Dalf link

3/27/2018 04:26:30 am

Colder weather condition are very unpredictable. So it is good to keep your car in proper maintenance. The four most important components should be checked during winter are battery, windshield wiper, antifreeze level and your car's engine. Battery is an important components as it provide power to all electrical components but in chill weather the battery needs more power to start your car. Before planning any trip in winter be sure your battery, charging system, and belts checked properly, also check they are working in order. Checking your windshield wiper is also necessary before the weather go terrible. Hence inspect windshield wiper blades are in good condition or not. Fill your windshield wiper fluid once in a year.

Laytoya Thomas link

4/16/2018 12:02:43 am

This is a very informative article. To recover from extreme cold in winter, we should take some necessary steps. We must check the air pressure of the tire as this may change due to the fluctuations in the surrounding temperature. The tire tread depth should be checked with a simple penny test. It is better to put winter tires on the car. As during winter more fluids are used, so we must check the level of all the fluids at this time. We must also check the brakes and the windshield wiper blades .Windshield washer fluids must be filled once in a year.

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