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6 Maintenance Tips For Your Vehicle During The Winter Months

Roberta Willson • October 21, 2021
The leaves are changing, the days are getting shorter and as the saying goes ‘winter is coming’. Taking care of your vehicle is a year round task. You will want to get ready for the winter here in New England in order to drive safely and to get the most out of your vehicle. As winter approaches it is important to review/check off these 6 maintenance tips to prepare your vehicle for this upcoming winter:

1. Tires
As you know, we live in New England and in New England it snows! Before the winter arrives, it is important to check your tires or to replace them with snow/winter tires. If you are not replacing them, check your tires to ensure they have enough tread left in order to manage the winter road conditions. You will also want to check your tire pressure as a deflated tire is more likely to blowout on a slippery road. 

2. Wipers and Windshield Care
Windshield washer blades and windshield care are typically low on the priority list but in the winter these are two things you will want to check. Snow, salt and other things can build up on the windshield that will wear out your blades quicker than usual. If your wipers look dried out or are leaving streaks on your windshield, it’s time to replace them. You might even want to consider replacing them with winter wipers, they are a little heavier than regular ones and tend to fare better in the winter. 

3. Emergency Winter Safety Kit 

No matter how prepared you are for winter and the road conditions, you never know when an accident will occur. It is important to keep an emergency winter safety kit in your vehicle just in case. Inside this kit, you should have: a flashlight, an extra set of batteries for your flashlight, a first aid kit, a pack of matches, non-perishable food and drink items, extra warm clothes and blanket, jumper cables, and a car tool kit. You can of course include other things inside your safety kit but just be prepared for anything that might happen. 


4. Keep Gas Tank ½ Full
Along the same lines as your emergency safety kit, you never know what will happen out there on the roads during a storm so it is important to try and keep your gas tank as full as you can, at least ½ full. By keeping your tank closer to the full side you are reducing the chances of a gas line freezing up and in case of an emergency you could use your engine to keep you warm inside your car while waiting for help to arrive. 


5. Check Battery

This one is easy to do but often forgotten. Before the winter arrives, test your battery. Did you need a jump once or twice during the summer? It might be time to replace it. Batteries don’t love the winter and when the temperature drops they are working harder so if you have a weak battery you might find yourself in trouble on the side of the road. 


6. Fill Fluids


Checking and filling fluids should be done regularly and definitely before the start of winter. Be sure to check your windshield washer fluid in addition to the normal fluids. If you cannot do this on your own, R.H. Willson has experienced mechanics on site and is ready to assist you any way we can. Contact us today! 

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