Tips for Winterizing Your Vehicle
Get your vehicle ready for winter weather with help from our experts in the Service Center at Skyline Mitsubishi! We'll help you stay on top of all your vehicle maintenance and repair needs for confident, cold-weather driving.
How to Winterize Your Car
1. Schedule a Winter Service Appointment
You can schedule a winter service appointment online or by calling our Service Center at Skyline Mitsubishi. Winter service appointments are typically standard maintenance appointments with extra care for weather-sensitive items like batteries and fluid checks. It's important that fluids like coolant and windshield washer fluid are rated for colder temperatures. Cold weather also makes engine oil act sluggishly, and a fresh oil change is a great idea to ensure your engine doesn't have to work so hard in extreme temperatures. Here is what you can expect from a winter service appointment:
- Battery Check
- Cooling System Check
- Brake Services
- Engine Oil Service
- Tire Check
2. Swap Out Seasonal Tires
Our experts might recommend snow or all-season tires Depending on where you live and the road conditions. If you have performance or summer tires, switching to a tire better suited for colder weather is smart and will save money in the long run. Snow and all-season tires are formulated with a softer rubber compound for enhanced grip and traction on ice and snow, but the soft rubber wears easily in warmer temperatures.
3. Ensure Optimum Tire Pressure
Cold weather can cause tire pressure to fluctuate. Keep tabs on your tire pressure by performing a quick visual inspection each time you get behind the wheel, or stay aware by checking your vehicle's tire monitoring system. Poor tire inflation can impact handling, traction, stopping power, and fuel efficiency.
4. Stay Aware of Changing Weather and Road Conditions
Always check the weather in winter months so you know what to expect from your daily drive. Get to know your vehicle and learn to drive in different conditions so you can stay safe and confident on the road.
5. Replace Wipers
Ice and snow can wreak havoc on the rubber blades of windshield wipers. Swap out the blades for wipers rated to handle snow and ice. Additionally, you can extend the life of your windshield wipers by scraping off any ice or hard snow before using the wipers.
6. Top Off Fluids
Drivers typically use a lot of windshield wiper fluid during the winter to keep the glass clear while driving in hazardous weather. When winterizing your car, fill the reservoir and top off other fluids as needed. You may have to do this more frequently in the winter.
7. Pack a Winter Preparedness Kit
Be prepared for winter emergencies by prepping ahead of time. We sell safety kits in our Part Center and all the items you need to replenish them:
- First Aid Kit
- Flares
- Flashlight
- Spare Batteries
- Matches
- Ice Scraper
- Non-Perishable Food
- Water
- Jumper Cables
- Portable Charging Cable (for EVs)
- Car Tool Kit
- Extra Antifreeze
8. Keep the Gas Tank at Half-Full or More
Keeping the gas tank filled in the winter is a great way to help reduce condensation and freezing the lines. Additionally, ensuring you have enough gas at all times is smart and will allow you to stay warm if you are ever stranded in winter weather.
9. Check Window DeFrosters
Ensure all your window defrosters function properly to keep your vision clear.
10. Learn How to Drive in Winter Weather
Learning to drive in various conditions is an important skill to keep you safe. Get to know your vehicle specifications and any special drive modes or settings equipped so you know what to do if you lose control.
- Get to know the gears or drive modes in your vehicle
- Learn how fast you should drive in different situations
- Understand how to maintain proper distance between vehicles in changing conditions
- Learn what to do if your vehicle starts sliding
- Understand how to drive uphill and downhill in slippery conditions
11. Purchase an AWD Vehicle
All-wheel drive vehicles give you a leg up on the winter roads. These models send power to each of your four wheels, allowing you to experience greater control over the roads regardless of the weather or road conditions. AWD models ensure greater peace of mind because they'll let you more easily navigate icy and snowy streets.
New InventoryPre-Owned InventoryExplore the new or pre-owned AWD inventory at Skyline Mitsubishi and embrace a more confident journey. You can take advantage of an AWD model all year long, so why not get started today?
How Can We Help?
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SKYLINE MITSUBISHI
2040 W. 104TH AVE.
THORNTON, CO 80234
- Sales: (303) 465-5512
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