11 PRODUCTS TO WINTERIZE YOUR CAR THE RIGHT WAY
If you live in a place where the roads get icy and snowy, these essentials can help you avoid the most common types of frigid-weather car trouble. Shop smartly!
1 Snow Tires
This one is a bit of a no-brainer, or at least it should be. Snow tires will keep you out of harm’s way when the roads get treacherous. Whether you deal with more ice, snow, or slush on the roads where you live, there’s a good tire out there that suits your needs.
2 Car Battery
If the battery in your car is getting old, you’ll want to have it tested long before winter rolls around. Car batteries don’t perform as well when temperatures drop below freezing, so replacing an old battery can help you avoid waking up one frosty morning to a car that won’t start.
3 Coolant
Make sure your antifreeze/coolant is performing as it should. You may have had a few emergencies during the summer where you topped it up with water, and that imbalance could mean that your cooling system is actually freezing overnight. No big deal, right? Well, if any parts in your cooling system are plastic, things can (and will) crack, meaning your next trip will need to be straight to your local mechanic.
4 Wiper Blades
Wiper blades are another crucial winter upgrade that many drivers forget until the first nasty storm hits. Not all wiper blades are created equal, and this Bosch pair is worth every penny. Don’t believe us? Just have a skim through the 3,000-plus reviews on Amazon! (Quick tip: Avoid frozen wipers by flipping the blades up if you’re leaving your car parked outside overnight).
5 A Fresh Oil Change
If you had an oil change in the late summer or early fall, you’re in the clear. But the older your oil, the less effective it is, so while you’re ticking off your other winter maintenance to-dos, make sure you’re not due for an oil change as well.
6 A Shovel (Just in Case!)
Especially important in snowy climates, a collapsible shovel on board can mean the difference between staying stuck in that snowbank and making it home. Those winter tires should keep you out of trouble, but this is one of those better-safe-than-sorry items we always recommend.
7 Fuel Stabilizer
Note to those with a seldom-used second set of wheels: Gasoline has a tendency to separate in a car that’s immobile for an extended period. This leads to some pretty serious gunk left in your fuel tank when you start it up in the spring. This product stabilizes the gasoline to ensure your car will be able to fire up normally, but you should still run it every so often over the winter to avoid any other issues that stem from a car resting for too long.ADVERTISEMENT – CONTINUE READING BELOW
8 Temporary Car Shelter
No garage? A shelter like this is totally worth the cost if you’ve got the driveway space and the budget to spare. It’ll keep your car from being covered in ice and snow, saving you time each morning, so you can sit and sip your coffee rather than scraping ice and cursing Mother Nature. This particular example from ShelterLogic is one of the best available options, shy of building a permanent garage.
9 Windshield Washer Fluid
In the summer you can get away with any old washer fluid, but if you live in the land of ice and snow, make sure you switch to something that isn’t going to freeze when temperatures drop. A washer fluid tank can easily crack when the fluid inside freezes, and that can mean an annoying (and sometimes costly) repair.
10 Lock De-Icer
When the mercury really dips, your car door locks can freeze, leaving you stranded out in the cold. Keep one of these little bottles in your home, your office, or even your purse, and you’ll at least have a chance of un-jamming those pesky door locks.
11 Car Emergency Kit
Being ready for any roadside emergency is always important, but especially so when the temperature drops. Accidents are more prevalent, road conditions degrade, and the risk of hypothermia quickly becomes a consideration. Rather than a generic kit, the link above will lead you to the most important items you need to build your own car emergency stash.
