Written By: Eric Huang  ericsblog@carmd.com

I personally love this season, driving around seeing houses with Christmas lights on, sipping on hot chocolate, listening to holiday music on the radio!  With all these festivities brings very cold weather, and besides taking extra precautionary steps to keep yourself warm, you have to think about your car!

10 easy steps to Winterize your vehicle from CarMD!

• Check Your Oil Level.

Check to make sure you have the correct type of oil, are you due for an oil change? Do you have enough oil? Engine Oil will get thicker as it gets colder, which makes it difficult to lubricate your engine. Your owner’s manual should have information regarding which oil to use for different temperatures/climates.

• Can you see?

While driving visibility is key and your windshield wipers are especially important both rain and snow! Make sure that you get a new set of wipers on your vehicle before you start driving around. Also make sure that you have the correct mix of windshield wiper fluid, you do want to run the risk of having your fluid freeze up when you need it the most!

• Belts and hoses

Always a good idea to check on your belts and hoses even for newer cars. The Cold weather can do some effect them.

• Tire Pressure and thread

In cold weather, traction can be easily lost due to slippery conditions. Losing control of your vehicle is extremely dangerous! Make sure that your tires are properly inflated, as cold weather can cause a drop in pressure level. Check out this video on tire maintenance from CarMD. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJHxOxq4sOg

• Snow Tires

Depending on what kind of winter you get, snow tires may be a good investment to improve the traction you have while driving around in different climates.

• 4 wheel drive

Is your vehicle is equipped with a 4 wheel drive option? Its important to refresh your understanding of the system and know when it is appropriate time to use this feature.

• Antifreeze Mix

To prevent your antifreeze/coolant from freezing try to have a 50/50 in your radiator.

• Lights

With a stress on visibility make sure that your headlights and taillights are working! If you can change it easily buy buying the parts from your local automotive store. CarMD also provides a video to help with changing out light bulbs! Click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgPvPxXPQi4

• Snow Chains

Snow chains are always something good to keep in your trunk space during the winter. Snow chains improve traction of your vehicle with snow and ice on the road.

• Emergency Kit

Always a good idea to keep an emergency kit with you no matter what season you are driving in! A few items I would recommend is

1. A blanket
2. Radio
3. First Aid Kit
4. Jumper Cables
5. Tool kit
6. Water and Food
7. Flashlight
8. CarMD

Are there any other tips you would recommend? Post them in the comments!

Eric Huang currently is CarMD.com Corp’s Online Marketing Coordinator responsible for various marketing channels including  social media marketing and affiliate marketing. Eric graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a Bachelors in Sociology and Film & Media Studies.

Questions about my blog? Comment here or email me at Ericsblog@CarMD.com

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