While white Winters in Texas come once in a blue moon, we should all still be aware of the car maintenance tips that keep the motor running through the Winter, and especially through any unexpected snowy and icy weather like we experienced in February of 2021!

This is especially true when many of us don’t lend a consideration to the changes that might occur under the hood just because of a drop in temperature.

So, as we head deeper into Winter, the team here at Dealership Autoplex Collision Center wanted to share 8 car maintenance tips to help see you and your vehicle through to Spring.

1.    Invest in a Set of Winter Tires

Winter tires, Summer tires and all-year tires have their advantages and disadvantages. In fact, they’ve been made for their own season. Winter tires are made from a much softer compound to help with gripping through ice, snow and slush while keeping car repair at bay but can often melt in Texan Summer heat. Summer tires are great for the warm weather but wouldn’t be much help when trying to grip an icy road.

2.    Do the Penny Tread Check

New tires will come will around 10/32” of tread; and when they wear down to 2/32”, you’re legally obliged to change them out. With Winter, you want as much grip as possible which means deep tread on your tires. To check, use a penny and turn Lincoln’s head down into the tread. If his head disappears into the rubber, your good to take the motor out. Otherwise, ya’ll will have to invest in a new set of Winter tires.

3.    Keep a Can of De-Icer in the Trunk

De-icer is like having an aerosol can of magic at your fingertips. Most brands use an active ingredient called methanol which melts ice off your windshield in the blink of an eye. Sometimes, when doing the school run or trying to get to the office, we can get stuck in the snow relying on warm water from the house and a scraper. But this will keep the wheels turning no matter where you are.

4.    Check Your Vehicle’s Suspension

Your suspension and chassis can take a beating in the colder months and it’s not really something we all think about. But, when the grit, the ice, the rocks, and the potholes caused by thermal contraction (the cold) hits the underside of your vehicle, unexpected car repair costs will be coming your way. So, get your vehicle a Winter suspension car maintenance check before hitting the cold track.

5.    Treat Your Car to Wheel Alignment

Also known as “tracking”, there are many reasons to get your car’s wheels and axels re-aligned. Misalignment comes from worn tires, hitting potholes, new tire fittings, suspension modification, part wear, engine juddering, heavy impact and more. Then, if your wheels are misaligned, you’ll have worse steering, tread and overall control on the road. So, to avoid needing car repair in the Spring, get your wheels aligned.

6.    Do a Quick Fluids Check

Winter car maintenance isn’t finished without checking your fluids. You’ve got coolant, engine oil, power steering fluid, brake fluid and windshield washer fluid. These fluids decrease in volume in cold weather, so it’s vital to check levels are up to standard. This is especially true with your coolant, which we might swap for an anti-freeze ratio to make sure the sub-zero temperatures don’t freeze the radiator system.

7.    Always Remove Snow and Ice From Your Roof

You shouldn’t just be thinking about your own vehicle when it comes to Winter car maintenance. Other road user’s safety and car repair is just as important of a consideration. When you’re driving with snow on your roof, it will begin to melt from the heat of your car and fall off your roof onto the road. Yet, sheet ice can be in that snow and hit the windshield of the driver behind you. So, check and scrape away!

8.    Keep Spare Fleece and Socks in Your Car

This last one is more about “you” maintenance rather than car maintenance or even car repair. That’s because you never know when you might be stuck in a snowstorm away from the house or stuck in traffic for hours after a collision on the highway involving black ice. So, to keep you and your passengers comfy, keep extra warm clothing and blankets in the back to access just when you need to.

And that makes all 8 of the team’s recommendations for Winter car maintenance and checks to make sure you have a safe drive through ice and snow.

Here at the Dealership Autoplex Collision Center, the team is good for more than just telling you a few Winter recommendations. We have a team of ASE-certified technicians and mechanics ready to help you maintain and repair your vehicle in the Winter months and right through to the height of Summer.

So, contact our team on (972) 242-0092 to find out more, or search our website where you’ll find all our services and our address. Alternatively, ya’ll are more than welcome to pop by for an eggnog in the snow while the team completes your Winter inspection here at the shop in Carrolton, TX.