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Winter Car Care Tips

Winter can be extremely hard on your vehicle and it is important to stay current with your winter vehicle maintenance schedule.  Keller Kustom Body & Paint has some tips to keep your car, truck, SUV or van running smoothly as the temperatures drop and the snow and ice roll in.

Check Your Battery

It is advised to start out the season making sure your battery is healthy and in good working order.  Your battery may work just fine on a weak charge during warmer months but once the temperature drops, the battery could unexpectedly go dead.  There are few things more frustrating than getting in your car to go to work and find that it won’t start.  Get a volt test performed and if it is time, replace your battery.

Tire Swap & Pressure Check

Consider swapping out your tires for winter tires or snow tires.  Surprisingly, winter tires are recommended for use in any area where the temperatures fall below 45 degrees on a regular basis.  Winter tires provide better traction and are particularly effective in our area where the snow and ice melt during the day and freeze over again at night.  Winter tires are composed of materials that stay flexible in lower temperatures.

Keep your rugged winter tires operating properly with regular tire pressure checks.  Weekly pressure checks are recommended always and especially in the winter.  Your tires will lose a pound of pressure for every 10 degree drop in temperature.  Driving on underinflated tires will cause them to wear prematurely and unevenly.  Additionally, underinflated or unevenly inflated tires affect the handling of your vehicle and is even more evident on slippery or icy pavement.

Fluids and Gasoline

It is advisable to keep your gasoline tank at least half full at all times during the winter months.  You are more likely to get stuck in the winter and a nearly full tank will keep you comfortable as you wait for a friend, family member or tow truck.  A full tank will prevent accumulated water from freeing inside your fuel pump, causing damage and perhaps an unwelcome repair bill.

Top off the windshield washer fluid as needed.  Winter grime and debris make it necessary to clear your windshield more often than usual to keep your field of vision clear.

Regularly check your coolant level.  Antifreeze is imperative in keeping your engine from freezing in cold weather.

Protect Your Vehicle’s Finish

Winter is hard on a vehicle’s finish.  Depending on where you drive, your vehicle will encounter grime, dirt, salt and sand, not to mention the constant pelting of rain, sleet and snow.  Protect your vehicle’s finish with a good quality polymer wax in order to create a protective barrier from the harsh winter conditions.  And on those dry days, when the sun peeks out, it will be easier to rinse off the excess buildup.

Windshield Wiper Blades

Start the season with a fresh new set of wiper blades on the front and back, if applicable.  Consider the higher quality wipers blades as they will last longer and be more effective at keeping your field of vision clear.  Avoid the squealing, dragging and streaking that comes with worn or low-quality wiper blades and make the slightly larger investment; you won’t regret it.  Pro-tip:  If your vehicle is parked in the weather, leave the wipers raised to prevent them from freezing to the windshield once the temperature drops.

If you are in the need for major collision repair or minor collision repair to your vehicle, visit  Keller Kustom Body & Paint at 1346 W 50 South, Centerville, UT  84014 or call us at 385-399-7046, Monday – Friday, 8a – 5:30p.