Whether you’re a winter driving veteran or someone who grew up in a warmer climate, it’s never too early to start preparing for cold weather. There are several different things to take into account when winter starts getting closer; here are 5 tips for getting ready to drive this winter.
1. Make sure your heating system works!
Make sure your heating system is working as well as the internal workings of your vehicle. The heater is going to be your best friend during the winter, so make sure it’s in tip-top shape before the cold weather sets in!
2. Go ahead and schedule a check-up for your vehicle.
The recommended amount of time between tune-ups is 30,000 miles, and this is equally important in the winter. If there are any existing problems, it’s better to find them before anything bad happens.
3. Check your antifreeze levels – before winter time.
Your antifreeze to water ratio typically should be about 50/50. When the weather starts to change, though, so should your ratio. As winter starts approaching, do your best to have your ratio at around 60% antifreeze, 40% water. This will protect your engine from conditions that could harm your vehicle; if you live in an extremely cold climate, change your antifreeze level to 70% and the water to 30%. That should protect you from harsh winter weather.
4. Add some de-icing materials to your car emergency kit.
Salt, an ice scraper, a shovel – essentially, anything that could protect you from the cold or get you out of an icy predicament is something to add to your road trip toolkit. Make sure to put everything in there before winter really hits, though!
5. Winter is the time when “glass half full” actually refers to your gas tank.
On both sides of this issue, there are different arguments for each opinion. Ultimately, it’s better to be safe than sorry: don’t allow your gas tank to get below half empty this winter. Cold weather can make condensation form in the gas tank; this condensation can drip into the gas, and those water droplets sink to the bottom. The water droplets can cause issues in your gas tank, and can even end up damaging your fuel pump. This year, keep your gas tank as full as possible.
Even though there’s still time before the season changes, we recommend having a game plan long before the weather gets colder. At Wave Express, our priority keeping our drivers safe. We wish you safe travels and lots of warmth this winter!
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