Car Buying Tips (23) Some Winter Tips To Keep Your Car Running Smoothly

Want to save money on car repairs and costly emergencies?

Make it a point to schedule into your calendar a winter booster check for your car.

Keep these tips in mind for your winter travel, and you’ll have a safer winter travel season all around!

A gas tank which is kept filled helps keep moisture from forming. Make it a habit to go ahead and fill up when your tank is half empty.

Change your oil and oil filter every 3,000 miles or so if your driving is mostly stop-and-go or consists of frequent short trips. Personally, I’d change my oil every 2000 miles, regardless. It will save you loads of trouble in the long run. Go ahead. Schedule it into the planner.

Wiper blades are one of those things we usually never think about until we need them, and they’re not working! Have you ever tried driving in sleet and snow with impaired visibility, thanks to dud wipers?

Talk about nerve-wracking! Go ahead and replace old wiper blades. If your climate is harsh, purchase rubber-clad (winter) blades to fight ice build-up. Stock up on windshield washer solvent.

You’ll be surprised how much you use. And, of course, carry an ice-scraper. I keep one in the car, and one in the house – just in case my doors freeze and I can’t open them immediately.

Make sure your heater and defroster are in good working condition.

Worn tires don’t help any time of year, least of all in winter weather. Examine tires for remaining tread life, uneven wearing, and cupping; check the sidewalls for cuts and nicks. It’s a good idea to check tire pressures once a month. Let the tires “cool down” before checking the pressure.

Don’t forget to rotate your tires, too!

Make sure you have a spare and that the jack is in good condition.

Be prepared for emergencies, even if you live in a warmer climate. A winter emergency list should include gloves, boots, blankets, flares, a small shovel, sand or kitty litter, tire chains, a flash light, and a cell phone. Put a few “high-energy” snacks in your glove box. You can buy survival aids in the camping section of your sporting goods store.

It may take you less than an hour to get your car checked for winter and prepare for any emergency. That’s time well spent and it can save you a giant headache this winter season! Indeed, it could even save your life and the lives of those you love.

Take Care Of Your Tires

We often ignore them unless they’re flat. But tires play a vital role in the overall condition of your car. Maintain them properly, and you’ll save money on repairs and on fuel costs.

Keeping your tires properly inflated ensures that they wear longer and can prevent accidents. Your car likely has a card or sticker attached to the door edge or the inside of the glove box door. The right amount of air your tires need is specified here. In case your car doesn’t have this sticker, you can check your owner’s manual.

Serious accidents can happen if your tires are under-inflated or overloaded. One of my tires blew-out on me and caused an accident. Luckily I was on a little traveled country road and was going slowly. I hate to think of what might have happened if I had been in major traffic.

Buy your own quality tire gauge. You can’t tell if tires are inflated properly just by looking. And the air meters at your service station may not be correct!

Ask your auto supply dealer for a tire gauge calibrated up to 80 PSI. They’ll know what you mean, even if you don’t.

Take a moment at the beginning of each month to check your tire pressure (don’t forget the spare! Uhm, you do have a spare tire, don’t you??) Check them before you get in the car to drive. Write down the actual under-inflation amount for each tire. Take this info with you to the service station.

Now measure the inflation again and record these numbers. (Don’t worry, this only takes a couple minutes.) Now inflate the tires to a level that equals the warm pressure (that you just took) plus the first under-inflation amount. (called the “cold” inflation pressure)

If the above instructions sound intimidating or confusing, take your car to a shop and give them the “cold” pressure numbers. They’ll put the correct amount of air in your tires for a minimum fee – sometimes they’ll not charge you at all.

The leading cause of tire failure is under-inflation. So make a habit to check them once a month.

Overloading your vehicle can lead to tire failure, too. Just because you have a pick-up truck doesn’t mean it can carry an infinite load.

Schedule a tire check into your calendar each month and you’ll save money, save fuel, and perhaps, even save your family from a car accident.

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