How to take care of your car in winters

A car is an electronic machine, and every machine has its own standard temperature to work efficiently. The difference in temperature affects the working of machinery. The same is in the case of a car. A car has to maintain temperature to perform well. The following checkpoints should be taken into consideration to take care of your car in winters.

1. Battery: It has been observed repeatedly, that people face difficulty in their car’s first startup in the morning. The most common reason found is the poor voltage of the battery.

2. Engine Oil: Your engine oil should be of good quality and you must avoid using the thick oil, especially in winter, as the chances of getting frozen of thick oil, are more as compared to the thinner oil.

3. Tire Pressure: The tire pressure should be monitored on weekly basis, as in winters the air pressure often reduces. Moreover, for driving in snow, and on slippery roads in heavy rain, good quality tires with fine air pressure are mandatory.

4. Fuel Tank: Avoid making your fuel tank empty especially in winters, instead of keeping it as a half tank full at least. This will help in maintaining the life of the fuel pump as well keeps the pipes to be safe from air tightening and getting freeze.

5. Auto Transmission: People usually don’t know how to drive an automatic car in the snow. They use to engage the car only in D mode. In fact, you have to use the low gears in manual cars and the same as the L or the B low gears in automatic cars while driving in snow. Or any available low gear in your car.

6. Brakes: Always check your car’s brake before starting the journey. Especially while driving in the snow make sure your brake pads are fine and the pedal brake, as well as the handbrake both, are working normally. Don’t press the full brake instantly while driving on a slippery surface as it may skid your car and this may result in an accident.

7. Wipers Blade: Ensure the working of your car wipers, before starting your journey. As in winters, you may face snowfall as well as heavy rain at any time. Make sure the blades are cleaning the windshield properly.

8. Wipers Fluid: Refill your wiper’s fluid or at least check its level every time you check your car’s radiator fluid. Snow Chains: Use snow chains on your car while driving in snow. This will help in gaining resistivity against the slipperiness of snow.

9. Radiator: You must check your car’s coolant on monthly basis and fortnightly if your radiator is weak or if you are traveling in the desert. In heavy snowfall, even if you are unable to drive your car as per normal routine, try to start it every day for 5 mins and move a little bit forward and reverse in order to prevent the coolant from freezing as wheel as the prevention of tires from being stuck.

10. Lights: Check your headlights working, both high beam and the taillights before going on a journey. Because in the snow your vision reduces and you have to watch the road more carefully. Use yellow paper on your headlights in order to make the visibility better.

11. Fog Lamps: Install the fog lamps, as it plays a vital role in helping in driving not just in fog but also in the snow. They increase the visibility power to 2x.

12. Defogger: Make sure your car’s both defoggers the front windshield and the back works perfectly, as it also blocks your vision due to the temperature difference of the car and outside.

13. Tow chain: Always carry a rope or a wire tow-chain for facing any emergency situation.