Proper winter maintenance might help you avoid winter damage.
As Canadians, we are well-versed in the delights and perils of winter. Slippery roads are dangerous, but they’re not the only dangers out there.
There are several winter factors that might harm your vehicle. Proper winter maintenance gives immediate advantages by preventing damage or repair costs, but it is also beneficial in the long run since winterizing your automobile may help retain its market value.
Icy roads need the use of sand and salt.
Sand and/or salt trucks are frequently close behind the first heavy snowfall, depending on where you reside. These substances are intended to enhance grip on snowy roads, but they may potentially cause harm to your car.
Sand contains pebbles and even tiny boulders, which may bounce up and impact the glass and body of your car, creating chips in your windshield, mirrors, and paint.
Another substance used to melt ice and keep roads safe during the winter months is salt. Salt exposure may cause corrosion and rust buildup on your automobile over time. The majority of salt damage occurs underneath the vehicle since the undercarriage is totally exposed to salt spray from the road. When a car is placed in a garage after a salty winter drive, the salt is permitted to stay and may harm the vehicle’s brakes, exhaust and muffler systems, and other components over time.
Waxing your vehicle before winter may help maintain its appearance, and frequent car washes (look for one that has an undercarriage spray) will help prevent accumulation on the outside and underside. Consider these treatments to be a long-term investment in the appearance and resale value of your car.
The cold stiffens rubber components, causing fissures.
Your vehicle contains more rubber than you realize, whether it’s the hoses that move fluids from one section of the vehicle to another or the trim around your car’s door, mirrors, or other external pieces.
Rubbers may break when exposed to low temperatures. Extreme temperature fluctuations (such as the contrast between a warm garage and freezing outside air) cause rubber to expand and contract repeatedly, weakening it over time. Moisture may enter into minor gaps, and as temperatures drop, the moisture freezes, causing the fissures to widen and the issue to worsen.
Your best defense is to examine your hoses on a regular basis and get them checked by a professional when they show indications of wear.
The cold might drain your battery.
Car batteries suffer from extreme temperatures. Cold lowers lead acid battery capacity (high temperatures increase the capacity.) Winter driving necessitates the usage of extra accessories, such as headlights, heaters, wipers, and so on, resulting in increased strain and higher battery needs. Cold may even cause a battery to fail, necessitating a replacement in rare situations.
When the car is running, the battery performs well, but when it is not, it suffers. If you leave your car alone for an extended length of time, have someone start it and take it for a few laps around the block every now and then. This is particularly true for snowbirds who go south to escape the harsh Canadian winter.
Cold weather might cause your gasoline lines to freeze.
In severe temperatures, water vapor in your fuel lines might freeze. A high grade fuel line antifreeze may be recommended by one of our numerous dealerships (Advantage Ford, Big 4 Motors, Okotoks Ford, South Centre VW, Village Honda, or Woodridge Ford).
Knowing how to prepare your automobile for winter is critical, particularly if you live in a region prone to severe snowfall and freezing temperatures. Winter maintenance may assist you in avoiding some of the lesser-known winter dangers that might have an influence on your resale value.