Preparing for winter’s chill
Don’t make us say it…
We really don’t want to say those words…
Sigh. If we must….
Winter is almost here. Those endless summer days of basking in the warm sunshine as you tend to your garden or putting that last coat of wax on your weekend fishing boat or classic Ford Mustang are officially over.
There. Are you happy now?
With summer officially over and winter soon to take its place, now is the time to prepare for next year’s slate of superb spring and summer weather. It’s never too early to begin planning next year’s weekend escapes or family vacations. But before you lock the padlock on your garage door or put up the sun visor in your car sitting underneath your carport, there’s one more thing you must consider: winterizing those toys that bring you so much joy.
Winter can be hard on your car, even if you are parking it for the season. To help you protect your cherished gems, we’ve complied a list of must-dos in order to keep your car running smoothly this winter.
Tips for winterizing your car
- Switch to winter tires and make sure you keep your tire pressure at an optimal level. Consult your owner’s manual for the correct PSI.
- Take stock of your car’s windshield wipers. Are they up to par or is the rubber beginning to separate from the rest of the wiper? Now is the time to invest in a new set. Also, top off your wiper fluid canister.
- Keep a flashlight, blankets, and a flair in your car. You never know how long you might become stranded during a winter break-down.
- Monitor local weather forecasts. Sometimes the best maintenance and prevention comes from staying put.
- ALWAYS keep a pair of jumper cables on hand.
- Change your motor oil to the appropriate viscosity. Check your oil weekly and NEVER exceed the vehicle’s capacity.
- Check your car’s braking, signaling and headlights.
- Now is the time to examine transmission and power steering fluids. You don’t want to risk a breakdown in colder weather.
- Keep track of routine maintenance by jotting down the day and mileage of all servicing and repairs.
Invest in steel metal protection
Of course, the ultimate preventive action in making sure your car doesn’t succumb to the ill effects of winter is achieved by investing in a steel metal garage from carport.com. Our garages are made from quality engineered and manufactured American steel. Each unit is capable of withstanding winds of 130 miles per hour and snow loads that exceed two feet! Browse our wide selection of garages to spur your imagination and to launch the purchasing experience!