Top 8 Powerful Winter Car Care Mistakes

If winter weather hasn’t hit Chicago by the time you read this, you can bet that it’s on the way.

When the weather is frightful, your morning commute can be slow but uneventful or it can be downright nasty.

It’s the little things that count and while winter won’t wait, you may have put off some of the basic car winterizing projects.

Even if you aren’t driving as much this winter, chances are that you are driving somewhere at least one or two days a week. That’s all it takes to turn a short drive into a disastrous one.

When it comes to winterizing your car, there are few things you can get away with and some you really can’t.

Check out our list of the top tips that don’t work AKA how to make a winter drive even more difficult.

Car Care Tips That Don’t Work or That You Shouldn’t Forget

 

1. Leaving the Old Wipers One More Season

Windshield wipers are those one little item that gets forgotten about until it’s too late. Do you remember the last time you changed them? Probably not.

Windshield wipers that seem “OK” in the summer will fall apart after the first hard freeze. No one wants to be on the road with wipers that leave large streaks or, worse yet, that have come apart and are down to the bare metal, scratching your windshield.

Don’t forget that removing a buildup of snow on the windshield is better for the wipers and the wiper motor than forcing the wipers to remove pounds of snow. Just one quick swipe with your gloved hand or a piece of cardboard is all it takes.

Unless you’ve changed your windshield wipers in the past three months, chances are really good that you need new ones. Don’t make the mistake of thinking they can last one more season. Change them. Today.

2.  Leaving Summer Tires on the Car

The only thing between you and that icy road are your tires. Unless you don’t plan on driving more than 3 miles to the store, you should change those summer tires for winter ones,

Did you know that summer tires start losing their grip when temps fall below 44 degrees? This not only means that you can slip easily on roads that have even a tiny bit of ice and it leads to longer braking times.

Don’t risk your life or even the inconvenience of a fender bender. Change your tires sooner rather than later.

3.  Letting the Gas Tank Get Low

There seem to be two types of people in the world; those who love to see how far they can go when the needle hits red and those who fill the tank once it hits the halfway mark.

While summer driving is easy and letting the gas tank hit the low mark won’t really hurt anything in the short run, this isn’t true in the winter.

First, it could be dangerous. Imagine if you or a family member should be stuck in a terrible accident during a blizzard. It could be hours before you can move or be rescued. Does the Lake Shore Drive disaster of 2011 ring a bell? (Look it up if you don’t remember). Some motorists found themselves stranded for 12 hours.

If you are running on a quarter tank or less, this means you won’t be able to run the car to operate the heater for very long and certainly not for 12 hours.

Second, the moist air inside an empty or nearly empty tank can crystalize. This will put ice into the fuel lines, either freezing them completely or causing problems due to water in the engine.

Be smart and keep the gas tank full. Fill up whenever the tank goes below ¾ for safer driving.

4. Deicing the Windshield Fast

You might think that pouring warm water on the windshield is a fast and easy way to deice it, but the truth is that this is the fastest and easiest way to get a new windshield because this will crack the old one.

This is especially true if you have even the tiniest chip or crack in the glass. The water will work its way inside and then freeze later, giving you a chance to buy a new one ASAP.

Deice your windshield the old-fashioned way, with an ice-scraper. You might also cover the windshield with a blanket or other device made to cover the glass, so you can pull it off with ease the next morning.

5. Hoping the Battery Will Last One More Winter

If colder temps have made your car slow to start, it’s time to check the battery.

Batteries tend to die in freezing weather (and the first few days of really hot summer weather) more than any other time of the year. When temps dip, the battery has a much harder time starting your car.

If the motor is turning very slowly or if you notice the headlights are dim, you would be wise to have the battery tested and the charging system inspected. No one likes to think about paying for a battery during the holiday season, but the last thing you want is to be stranded somewhere with a dead battery.

6. Ignoring Tire Pressure

Yes, while most cars today have tire pressure monitors, you shouldn’t rely on them every day.

If the tire pressure light should come on, even if it goes out later, you should have the tire pressure checked. Winter tires are much less likely to require air than all-season tires, but it’s still a good safety measure to check the tire pressure and inspect the tire condition at least once a month.

7.  Skip Your Scheduled Maintenance

Freezing temps are hard on your car, including the motor. Engine oil gets thicker in colder weather, making the engine and the battery work harder to turn the motor. If you haven’t changed the oil lately or if you are considering skipping or delaying scheduled maintenance, don’t.

If you aren’t sure whether you need a winter weight oil or how long it’s been since you last had your oil changed, the pros at Hong Kong Auto Service will be glad to discuss this with you.

8.  Waiting till the End of Winter to Wash the Undercarriage

Every day that it sits on your car, brine and road salt are eating away at the undercarriage. You might think that it’s a waste of time and money to clean underneath the car until spring, but that’s like waiting until spring to wash clothes.

Road salt is eating away at your expensive exhaust system, brakes, and subframes. After a heavy snowstorm has passed and the weather is expected to hold for a few days, have the undercarriage washed.

Yes, you will wash it again at the first sign of spring but washing it a few times over these long winter months will save you a ton of money in the long run.

If You Are Feeling Car Care Insecure

At Hong Kong Auto Service, we understand that not everyone is obsessed with cars. You may be wondering if you are doing all you can to ensure your family’s safety or perhaps you want to change the wipers but aren’t sure how or which ones are best, stop by Hong Kong Auto Service.

Our ASE Certified mechanics will be happy to answer your questions and give you the best advice on how to keep you and your family safe while driving through the tough winter months.

Call us today for an appointment so you can enjoy the holidays with the peace of mind that comes from knowing your car is being maintained by true professionals who care about you.