You may have already prepped your home for winter, but have you gotten your car ready for the season, too? Cold temperatures can wreak havoc on your car, making it unsafe to drive during certain conditions. Simple maintenance can help ensure your car is safe and running smoothly this season.
Before the family buckles in for the annual holiday road trip, make sure you’ve checked these things off your automotive to-do list.
1. Replace Anti-Freeze
Radiator fluids can freeze in cold conditions. When you’re ready to winterize your car, drain your normal anti-freeze and fill it with a 50-50 blend. “What’s great about 50-50 blend is it protects your radiator and the hoses from freezing,” explains Tom Wolfe, weatherization expert and store manager with The Home Depot.
2. Swap Windshield Washer Fluid
“It’s important to swap out your old windshield washer fluid—the one you’ve been using all year—with one that’s designed for cold temperatures,” adds Tom. Standard windshield washer fluid can freeze when exposed to extreme conditions, potentially causing your washer solvent reservoir to crack. Find a liquid that can withstand freezing temperatures and help to quickly melt ice and frost from your windshield.
Also, take this opportunity to inspect your windshield wipers. Replace them with a new pair that’s ready to take on the ice and snow that’s coming your way.
3. Check Battery
Nobody thinks about their car battery until it’s too late. Make sure you properly check your battery before you hit the road. What should you look for when popping that hood? “Check for any corrosion or acid build up around the battery. If you see it, your battery is probably going to fail pretty soon,” cautions Tom. Consider taking your car to an automotive specialist to measure the cold crank amps.
If you’re in need of a battery change, the process is actually quite simple. First, make sure your ignition is turned off. Then take the connector off your positive and negative terminals, and bring the battery into the automotive section of a Home Depot store. An associate can help you find a new battery that’s the correct size. “We have a list of the battery size needed for car makes and models,” says Tom.
4. Ready a Roadside Kit
Always keep a roadside kit in the trunk of your car. “You want to have the proper tools and knowledge to fix a flat or jump-start your car,” advises Tom. Even things like gloves come in handy when needing to change your tire. Not sure what in-case-of-emergency items should be included in your roadside kit? Check out our graphic below.
First Aid Kit, Tire Repair Kit, Tool Kit, Flares, Tire Pressure Gauge, Jumper Cables, Flashlight, Blanket, Radio, Ice Scraper and Work Gloves.
Didn’t realize we had an automotive section in our stores? Now you can get everything you need, from windshield wipers to oil filters, in one convenient location.
