Winter weather can be particularly hard on your car, truck or SUV. Cold temperatures can cause all kinds of trouble, from reducing the effectiveness of regular tires, sapping a battery’s performance and making driving conditions generally more hazardous. While none of this is ideal, vehicle owners and drivers are not without tried-and-true methods to mitigate these problems as much as possible. The team of experts working in the Barrie Nissan Service Department put together this list of essential winter car maintenance tips to help you get through another season. Let’s see what they came up with.
Subfreezing temperatures make everything more difficult, including dealing with unexpected problems. Keeping up with car maintenance during the winter months goes a long way toward preventing issues from occurring in the first place.
Get Winter Tires Put On Your Car
We simply can’t overstate how important getting snow tires installed is to a safe winter driving season. All-season tires are commonly equipped on vehicles when they are shipped from the factory. Those are great most of the year. However, as the daily average ambient temperature dips below 7° C, the rubber used by all-season tires becomes stiff and loses its ability to maintain grip on snow- or ice-covered roads.
When you come to the Barrie Nissan Service Department for your semi-annual tire swap, our technicians will check the treads’ health and depth, make sure there are no cracks on the sidewall and ensure the tires are inflated to the proper pressure.
Get Your Battery Checked
Without a working battery, no automobile is going anywhere. Car batteries use a chemical process to create the electricity needed to start the engine and perform other functions. Long periods of cold weather slow the chemical reaction, making it difficult or impossible to start the car, truck or SUV when needed. You should stop by our service department for a battery test if you notice:
- Your vehicle struggles to start
- Interior lights are dimmer than normal
- A clicking sound when you turn the ignition
Check Fluids For Winter Readiness
There are several automotive fluids that need attention during the winter months. The most common fluid change is likely the antifreeze/coolant. Some platforms need to change their antifreeze in cold weather to ensure it remains liquid while it circulates the system and properly dissipates heat. Additionally, a vehicle with the incorrect antifreeze/coolant could struggle to keep the passenger cabin warm when needed.
Motor oil is another fluid that may need to be changed for the winter. However, most modern automobiles use synthetic motor oil, which works in more extreme conditions without needing to be changed. A Barrie Nissan service technician will let owners know if they need to update their motor oil.
Winter Car Maintenance FAQs
How often should I check tire pressure in winter?
A good rule of thumb is to check tire pressure each time you stop for fuel. Tires can lose pressure when there are fluctuations in the ambient outside temperature. A tire can lose 1 psi for every 10-degree drop in temperature. This most commonly happens if it’s warm during the day and gets cold overnight.
Do You Need Winter-Specific Motor Oil?
When conventional motor oil was more popular, owners needed to use a different formulation to keep effectiveness in cold weather. Synthetic motor oils protect across a wider range of temperatures, making it unlikely a change needs to be made.
How Do You Know If You Need A New Battery?
A working car battery is required to get it started. When a battery nears the end of its lifecycle, the interior lights will appear dimmer than normal and the vehicle will struggle to turn over.
Do You Need Winter Windshield Wiper Blades?
Winter-ready windshield wipers use a different kind of rubber that is able to remain pliable in cold temperatures. Winter-ready wintershield wipers are designed to break through snow and ice, a crucial function for winter driving.
How Early Should Winter Maintenance Be Completed?
The Barrie Nissan Service Department can perform all needed winter maintenance tasks in the same appointment. However, if you haven’t had your winter tires put on yet, or need to have us look at anything else, now is a great time to schedule an appointment. It’s never too late to start taking the best care of your car, truck or SUV possible.
Schedule An Appointment With The Barrie Nissan Service Department Today!
Our highly trained and experienced team of service technicians can handle anything you bring to us. Make an appointment with the Barrie Nissan Service Department today if you want some extra peace of mind before hitting the road this winter.