How to Prepare Your Car for Winter

As winter approaches, we all swap our summer wardrobes for warmer coats, scarves and hats. Preparing your car for winter is no different. 

Life is busy, and it can be challenging to find the time to make these preparations. But car winter preparation is an essential practice that you need to carry out every year. 

Cars may appear sturdy and durable, but they’re just as susceptible to the cold, ice, and snow as our homes. The good news is that there are some simple steps you can take to get your car winter ready. 

In this article, we’ll explore these steps to help you prepare your car for winter. By creating a car winter checklist and carrying out the right maintenance, you can avoid common car problems and keep your car running smoothly. 

1) Test Your Car Battery

Car batteries typically last for a limited time, and if your car battery’s close to the end of its lifespan, a cold spell could be the reason for its demise.

Cold weather and increased use of your vehicle’s heaters, lights, and windscreen wipers can put strain on your car battery. For this reason, it’s a good idea to test your car’s battery ahead of the cold season to effectively prepare your car for winter. 

If you’re confident in your abilities and want to do this yourself, purchase battery testers to check the voltage. Your owner’s manual will have instructions to guide you through this process. 

If you’re unsure about how to test your battery, ask a professional, like In Town Automotive, to check your vehicle for you. Arranging a service before winter sets in is one of the effective ways you can get your car winter ready. Contact us to book your appointment now. 

2) Check Oil Levels

When the weather gets colder, it’s always recommended that you check your oil levels. Checking your oil levels helps prepare your car for winter and could potentially prevent a breakdown as well. 

The process is fairly simple. You take the dipstick, remove it from its tube, wipe it clean and then insert it back in. Then, you pull it out and examine it against your owner’s manual to determine if you need more oil. 

When checking oil levels, ensure you’re using the correct oil, replace the cap fully, and be careful to avoid overfilling the oil cap. Consult your owner’s manual if you have any doubts along the way. 

3) Have the Brakes Professionally Checked

Brakes are an essential component of any vehicle. Unless you’re an experienced mechanic, checking your brakes is best left to the experts. 

Some early warning signs that might indicate brake problems include squeaking or grinding noises. If you notice your car pulling to one side of the road or your brakes don’t respond as quickly as they used to, get your vehicle examined by a professional as soon as possible. 

Our team of mechanics at In Town Automotive is well-equipped to tackle all types of car brake problems and carry out this step of your car winter preparation. 

4) Top Up Coolant and Anti-Freeze

When you prepare your car for winter, you need to remember to top up the coolant and anti-freeze. Below the bonnet, you’ll find the coolant reservoir (often white in colour). There should be marks on the outside, so you can see at a glance if more coolant is needed. 

Once winter sets in, you need to ensure there’s the right amount of anti-freeze present as well. If there’s too little, the water in the cooling system might freeze and lead to expensive repairs. 

Ideally, you want to maintain a 50/50 ratio of water to anti-freeze. If you’ve been topping up with water and are unsure about the amount of anti-freeze present, you can ask a local garage to check the strength and top up accordingly. 

5) Consider Winter Tyres

During winter, car tyres can get damaged by potholes, fluctuating temperatures, and wet road surfaces. That’s why it’s a good idea to switch to winter tyres until the temperature gets a bit warmer. 

Winter tyres are specially designed to give you more traction and grip when you’re driving on icy, wet surfaces. When you’re having your tyres fitted, you need to ensure they’re in good condition (including the spare!). You can do this by checking the tyre tread and pressure. 

Your car’s recommended tyre pressure can be found either in your owner’s manual or by the driver’s door. Look for any unusual bulges, wear, or general damage. If you spot anything, mention it to your mechanic right away. Good tyre maintenance is essential to keep your car driving smoothly. 

Choose In Town Automotive For Excellent Car Maintenance Services

Driving your car should be smooth sailing year-round. To ensure this is the case, it’s important for you to take certain precautions and prepare your car for winter ahead of the colder season. 

The above winter checks are important, but maintaining your vehicle throughout the year is just as essential. 

At In Town Automotive, we provide car repair and maintenance services to keep your car running smoothly. We also offer MOT services to ensure your vehicle is legal to drive on the road. Our professional garage technicians can help you with repairing brakes, air conditioning, tyres, exhausts, turbo replacements, and much more. 

As an award-winning garage in Northampton, we have a team of skilled mechanics offering exceptional services to enhance the performance of your vehicle. 

To learn more about us, visit our services page or contact us to book an appointment today.