Keep your car happy this winter

With another winter storm on the way for large parts of the country, we thought it seemed like the perfect timing to pass along Randy Williams' tips on winter car care.

EMERGENCIES
Like a good boy scout, your first order of business is to be prepared! A pair of warm gloves, a can of de-icer, and a window scraper are three essentials to every car north of Atlanta for the winter. If you live in the North or in areas of the country that are routinely hit with large amounts of snow and ice, don’t forget to carry tire chains or something similar in the trunk of your car. You’ll be forever thankful for these things if you ever need them.

PROPER TIRE TREAD
The next order of business is to make sure your tires have proper tread. Slick or heavily worn tires are extremely dangerous in all kinds of weather, but especially in winter weather. A little trick (taken from off-roading) for driving in slushy or snowy conditions is to slightly deflate your tires. This allows for more of the tread to make contact with the road. But remember, this is only for extreme conditions. Otherwise, tires should always be properly and fully inflated.

ANTIFREEZE
Cold weather can really mess with your engine, too. Think about it: all that metal is below freezing when the engine is off. Then, you start the car and within a minute, things heat up to well over 100 degrees in some cases. That’s why anti-freeze is a MUST in the winter. If you can’t afford to have your cooling system flushed, you can simply top off the radiator with an equal mix of antifreeze and water (a little more antifreeze if you’re living up in the tundra). You cannot, however, have only water in there because it’ll freeze and can crack the engine (because water expands when it freezes).

WIPERS
Windshield wipers really take a beating during the winter, so keep an eye on their condition. Streaky patterns or dangling pieces mean it’s time to change them. Also, refill your reservoir with winterized washer fluid.

INTERIOR/EXTERIOR
Although it has nothing to do with the performance of your car, you should still remember to take care of the interior and finish of your car. Salt and sand on the roads can really pile up, so a good rinsing every week can go a long way to preserving your car’s finish. (Don’t forget the headlights and mirrors!) Inside, find a good conditioning protectant for any plastic and leather. In the long run, this will keep cracks and damage from appearing.

If you’re like me, most of your car care happens when the clunker won’t start (or stop, or simply can’t decide). But, preventative maintenance can save us all a headache or two. Following these easy tips will help make your winter a little more carefree, as far as your car is concerned.

Homework, tests, and projects? You’re on your own.