Make sure your car is winterized.
With these arctic blasts coming each winter, it’s important to have a winterized car. You never know what will happen if the unthinkable happens being stuck in a car jam, pile up or stranded out in a broken car in freezing cold temperatures and wintery conditions. Here’s some steps to make sure you’re safe and warm.
While this is standard these days, you want to be double sure you have your phone with you and fully charged. Calling for help will be the best way to save you.
Make sure your tires are full and in good condition. Check the tire pressure and thickness of the tire threads. You may want to consider winter tires.
Have a mechanic check your battery to make sure it has full juice. Cold temperatures slow down the battery’s chemical charges and your car uses more energy from the battery during cold weather. A mechanic will also be able to clean off any corrosion and check the cables as well.
Make sure you have new windshield wipers. Very important. With snow, ice and cold rain you need to be able to see especially at night and on highways.
Check the anti-freeze and make sure the water to anti-freeze ratio is 50/50. You can use an inexpensive anti freeze tester yourself or have the mechanic do it.
Change the oil and check belts and hoses.
Have supplies stored in the car. In a manner as if you were going to be stuck for hours because getting frozen in a car jam, pile up or on a highway that iced over in a hurry happens more frequently than you would think. Just watch the news.
Make sure there are blankets, water, snack food like granola or power bars. Have jumper cables, fully aired spare tire with all of the tire jacks necessary. Have a flashlight. As a second precaution, load one of those flashlight apps on your cell phone so you have several sources. Emergency roadside triangles or flares. Have an ice scraper and first aid kit.
You never know what will happen. Even if you live south or especially if you live south. When those rare arctic blasts hit the southern states that’s where most are unprepared thus incidents can easily happen such as car pile ups and getting stuck on the highway in a car jam because the highway froze over almost instantly. It’s better to be safe than sorry and have a winterized car.
Here’s some tips to making sure your home is winter-ready as well.
Just another ShopRTO ‘we care for your safety’ lifestyle tip.
