Tips for Preparing Your Car for the Winters
Winters are around the corner and freezing rain, snow and sleet are quite a challenge for drivers. A car faces a lot of problems in extreme cold, especially when starting in the mornings. In this blog, I have discussed a few problems faced by car owners in cold weather and ways to tackle those problems.
Battery Check:
Getting the car’s battery checked is probably where you should start with. A weak battery means your car will have a lot of difficulty starting, and in most cases, you will need to get it push started (if it’s a manual transmission). Make sure that the level of water is right as indicated on the battery. Do not put too much of water in the battery as it weakens the cells. Before winters come, it’s recommended to get the battery checked properly by an electrician or someone who deals in batteries.
Tyre Check:
Having good tyres is important especially in areas of Pakistan that experience snowfall. Make sure your car tyre’s thread are good and not worn out. Checking the tyre pressure is important as well. The condition of tyre’s threads and its pressure are important factors for giving your car a better grip on the road.
Convert from CNG to Petrol:
For cars with a CNG kit, it is recommended to convert the car to petrol when parking the car for the night. CNG cars start with a lot of difficulty when the gas is cold. For a better engine life, it’s a good practice to switch to petrol, when turning in for the night, even in other seasons (not only in the winters).
Get the Car Heater Checked:
For regions of Pakistan with extreme winters, driving without a heater will be quite a challenge. Make sure to get the car heater checked before the winters.
Oil Change:
Changing the grade of your oil is a good idea if you live in the areas that experience extreme cold. The cooler the weather, the thinner you want the engine oil to be. When the winters come, you should consider changing the grade of your engine oil. The viscosity grade is indicated by the numbers on the oil can, 5W-30 for instance. For winters, an engine oil with a 10w-30 grade is probably better than a 20W-50 grade engine oil.
Fog lights and Rear Lights:
Make sure your cars fog lights and rear lights are working. Fog lights and rear lights are important, especially in the northern areas of Pakistan where fog is experienced in winters.
Check the Car Starter:
Getting the car starter serviced is recommended before winters come. A weak car starter will take time to crank the engine and will weaken the battery over time.
These are a few precautionary things to get checked before winters come. Do share your experiences and tips for winters.