Fall is a precursory season, often spent running around for winter clothes, school supplies, gas, and heater repairmen – and for good reason: nobody wants to brave a snowstorm in a t-shirt or take notes on the backs of their hands. Of course, no matter how prepared you are for the upcoming season, if you’re not preparing your car for Winter, you’re running a high risk of getting stranded in the worst possible weather conditions. So, don’t let Winter car maintenance fall through the cracks this year.
Here are four easy DIY tips for getting your car ready for the Winter weather.
Engine Oil Check
If you don’t check your engine’s oil level monthly, start this new habit. It only takes a minute or two.
– When checking your engine’s oil level, the dipstick is your best friend
– Wait until your engine has cooled down, and then locate the dipstick in your vehicle
– Take it out of the dip tube and clean it, then push it back in until it fits in the tube again
– Wait a minute or two, then take it out again and check the level of the oil. If it is between the two dots, or the high and low marks, then you’re good to go
– Credit: Car Bibles
Battery Check
Experts recommend testing your battery every Fall to lower the chances of it failing due to cold weather.
– Check your car’s battery yourself is a bit more complicated, so we found a helpful video from a reliable source to walk you through the process
Windshield Wipers Check
Wipers should be replaced every Fall so you have new wiper blades that can battle the cold weather; it’s quick, easy and inexpensive to do yourself.
– Lift your wiper blade, and push the tab under the wiper to remove the blade
– Then attach the new blade – easy as pie
Tire Pressure Check
Tire pressure should be check every Fall because it tends to drop as the weather becomes colder.
– Wait until your vehicle has been sitting for a few hours – the colder your tires are, the more accurate the reading
– Try to use a tire gauge, and not a built-in one on an air compressor
– Then add (or release) air from the valve stem of the gauge until your tire’s pressure matches its recommended level
Also, no matter where you are make sure to have a snow brush and ice scraper packed in your trunk. We are huge advocates for safety, so we recommend buying a car emergency kit. This one from Survival Supply is around $20 and is overstuffed with useful tools:
If you are on a time crunch and can’t get to everything, give us a shout out at TalkLocal and we will place a request for a mechanic for you.
Safe Travels and Happy Fall!
