The cold season can have drastic effects on your automobile. Regardless of its finish, snow can cause the same damages as rain. Hard ice can potentially spoil the body and erode the paint. On top of that, it is not easy to wash your car in the middle of the winter. Hence, it is essential to protect your car from snow.
Of course, the melting snow also results in rusting of your car. If left untreated, it can lead to severe damages like cracks and holes. The low temperature means that the engines are left cold, which may affect your driving experiences. Therefore, you must do your best to keep the vehicle safe from the consequences of inclement weather.
Helpful Tips on How to Protect Your Car in Winter
1. Purchase a Block Heater for Your Vehicle
If you start your car when it is freezing, it can prove to be very damaging. It is always recommended that you heat your car before starting it. Additionally, it consumes a lot more fuel than normal when you are lighting up the engine; this happens because mechanical components require much more energy to get
lubricated and function properly.
All these problems can be solved with the help of a block heater, which you need to switch on before the ignition. If you do not pre-heat your car, it can easily consume about 15% more fuel for the first 20 kilometers, aside from the damage during this period.
With the help of block heaters, you will be able to pre-heat the car and get the emission control systems working earlier. Due to this, four to six times lesser emission is released, thereby making block heaters environmentally friendly as well.
2. Do Not Rock Your Vehicle If It Is Stuck in a Snowbank
One of the most frustrating experiences during the winter season is getting stuck in a snowbank. If this happens, it is suggested that you do not rock your car back and forth, attempting to get out, as it can cause a lot of damage to your vehicle’s transmission.
One way to get out of this mess without causing trouble is to place a pair of wooden planks or tread plates in your car. All you need to do is put these planks under the tires of your vehicle. It increases the traction and allows you to reverse out of the snowbank quickly, without causing any problems. It is one of the best ways to protect car from cold weather tricks.
3. Place a Towel on Your Windshield
Protecting the exterior of your vehicle is also an essential aspect. One common problem that most car owners face during the winter is frozen windshields, which can prove to be very destructive. Additionally, scraping the ice off it can also be a frustrating experience.
Perhaps, the best way to protect the windshields from freezing is to place a towel over it. It is quite a useful hack and will also help the wipers to prevent sticking.
4. Dealing With Frozen Locks Properly
Frozen door locks are yet another annoying problem that the winter brings. Most people make use of hot water to melt the ice in the lock. However, they do not know that this solution is only temporary, and the water that is left inside will cool down and freeze again.
- The best solution to get rid of the ice
in frozen locks is to make use of a hairdryer on the
high-temperature setting. - Even if your lock is completely frozen,
a simple hairdryer will fix the issue without damaging your car.
5. Wrap up the Side Mirrors With Plastic Bags
If you are parking outside in cold weather, protecting a car it from the winter weather can be challenging. One of the difficulties includes frosted and foggy side mirrors. You can try to deal with this problem by covering them with plastic bags before you retire for the night. By doing so, the frost will not form over the glass, and you will get clear mirrors every morning.
6. Battery Maintenance
Most people tend to ignore the condition of the car batteries until an issue arises. They also assume that
whether anything else works or not, the battery of the car will always function normally. However, the cold weather can pull a few strings on your batteries because the engine is more difficult to start, which puts a significant strain on the batteries.
- As you are preparing for winters, you
need to ensure that the batteries of your car are checked for peak
working and efficiency. - If not, you should get it replaced
before the temperatures drop too far.
The cable connections are also crucial for the performance of the batteries. If corrosion forms on the
connectors, you need to remove the cables and clean them with a mix of baking soda and water; the corroded layer should come off quickly.
Additionally, you can also purchase a battery insulator to wrap it around; this will add an extra layer of warmth and protection against the cold elements.
7. Checking the Tire Pressure
The air pressure in the tires can drastically drop after winter arrives: about 1-pound per square inch with each 10° drop. Hence, you must check the tire pressure once a week after the cold season started. Moreover, ensure that you fill the tires up at least once a month so that proper inflation is maintained throughout the season to properly protect your car.
Conclusion
The above are just some of the tips that can verify that your car remains in perfect driving conditions. Yes, the winter season is hard to cope with, and your vehicle is no different. But with the help of our advice, you will be able to be sure that it remains well cared during the cold seasons. If you need more useful tips and tricks, https://homemakerguide.com/ will provide you with the best ideas and recommendations.
Pinstripe Magazine Staff
Online Men’s Lifestyle Magazine on Gear, Grooming, Girls, Gadgets
