Personally, I prefer winter over summer. I’m much better at handling the cold than I am at handling the heat. But let’s face it: the same doesn’t really go for a lot of people, and it certainly doesn’t go for most machinery. Cars, for example, are much better at handling those summer months than they are the icy winter ones.



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Using your car in winter can put both you and your car at risk. Don’t worry: I’m not suggesting that your everyday winter commute is fraught with mortal danger. But you definitely need to make sure your vehicle is ready for these months. It’s during winter that most car problems and dangers arise. So let’s take a look at what you need to get done in order to protect your ride.

Review the battery

A lot of people are driving around with car batteries that are years old. And this is fine, for the most part. But when the temperatures get very cold, an old battery can struggle. A battery that’s five or more years old simply doesn’t get as much current to the engine as it used to. And your engine needs more current to deal with such weather. Get it reviewed, repair, or even replaced. An auto repair business can help you with this step.



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Check your antifreeze

Antifreeze does exactly what it says on the tin. If you don’t have it in winter, then you’re putting your car at quite some risk. If you don’t have it, then the radiator, cylinder block, and the water pump will likely freeze. And trust me when I say that repairing those will not be cheap! That freezing process will occur quicker than you think. Ensure you’re got enough antifreeze during these months.

The tyres

You know why the tyres are so important here. The roads aren’t exactly going to be car-friendly when winter falls. January and February in particular are going to be nasty for it. Rain and severe drops in temperature combine to make those roads icy and slippery as hell. It’s not just a case of making sure your tyres are inflated and firm before every trip (which you must do, by the way!) It’s also about making sure your tyres are actually fit for the job in the first place. Certain makes are much better at handling these roads than others.



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Fuel

You need to be a lot more vigilant about your fuel usage and levels during the winter months. Do you want to know why so many cars simply won’t start on winter mornings? It’s often because something has frozen up. If you let your fuel tank drop below a quarter full, then the cold weather will lead to condensation within your tank. Condensation, of course, leads to water. And guess what’s going to happen to the water in this weather? Overnight, a lot of ice can form in your fuel tank and in other areas of your car’s interior. This disrupts the connection between the fuel and your engine. Before you know it, you’re spending half an hour in the morning trying to get the car to start.