Winterizing Your Vehicle

Preparing your vehicle for the Richmond winter ahead

Winterizing your vehicle is really just continuing maintenance.  Harsh winter weather can worsen an existing problem or create new ones when regular maintenance hasn’t been done throughout the year. Regular maintenance inspections by our Techs will catch a small problem before it becomes a safety issue or costly. In the Fall we recommend the following to prepare your vehicle for Winter driving:

• Clean, flush and put new antifreeze in the cooling system. As a general rule of thumb, this should be done every two years.
• Make sure heaters, defrosters and wipers work properly. Consider winter wiper blades and use cold weather washer fluid.  As a general rule, wiper blades should be replaced every six months.
• Have the battery and charging system checked for optimum performance. Cold weather is hard on batteries.
• Check the tire tread depth and tire pressure. If snow and ice are a problem in your area, consider special tires designed to grip slick roads.
• During winter, tire pressure should be checked weekly.
• Be diligent about changing the oil and filter every 3,000 miles. Dirty oil can spell trouble in winter. Have your technician check the fuel, air and transmission filters at the same time.
• If you’re due for a tune-up, have it done before winter sets in. Winter magnifies existing problems such as pings, hard starts, sluggish performance or rough idling.
• Have the brakes checked. This braking system is the vehicle’s most important safety item.
• Have the exhaust system checked for carbon monoxide leaks, which can be especially dangerous during cold weather driving when windows are closed.
• Check to see that exterior and interior lights work and that headlights are properly aimed.

We also recommend keeping the gas tank at least half full at all times to decrease the chances of moisture forming in the gas lines and possibly freezing. Drivers should check the tire pressure of the spare in the trunk and stock an emergency kit with an ice scraper and snow brush  jumper cables, flashlight, and flares. Also keep emergency phone numbers handy such as a good towing company should you be stranded. Call us anytime with all your vehicle safety and maintenance  questions. We are Your Family Car Care & Auto Repair Center, 804-524-9115