Preparing for Winter Driving – How to Maintain Your Car Through a Michigan Winter

Those familiar with winter in Lansing can attest to the increased stress of driving. Even if you are comfortable with driving in winter conditions, chances are someone on the road near you is not. Students at Michigan State University come from different climates across the country and the world to study, but I have not seen a winter driving class in the schedule books. With all this in mind, even if you are a ‘serious’ winter driver, it never hurts to look at some winter driving tips just to keep them fresh in your mind.

Preparing Your Car For Winter

First of all, a few things to have checked out: your battery, thermostat, heater, defroster, and antifreeze level. These are some core components involved in keeping your engine running properly in the colder condition and maintaining the climate inside your vehicle.

Check to make sure that your tires have adequate tread. With black ice, or snow drifts in the road, or combinations thereof, your tires ability to stop your car is important. If your tire treads are getting low it reduces their traction, or ability to stop, especially in already severe weather conditions.

Make sure all your lights are working properly. If you have not visually inspected your lights now is a good time to do so. In winter weather conditions your lights might be necessary even during the day. Also, make sure that your less used lights are working, such as hazard lights, which might get more use during the winter.

It is a good idea to change your windshield wiper blades during winter months. Maybe in delicate conditions wiper blades could survive longer, but around Lansing the fluctuating Michigan weather wears them out quickly. As soon as you notice streaking, where the wipers ‘miss’ a section of the windshield, you should look into new wiper blades.

Check windshield washer fluid. Most windshield washer solvents these days should not freeze, but if you have ever topped off your washer fluid or used anything other than specifically branded washer solvent then yours could. Also, sometimes the washer fluid nozzles will get frozen over. Make sure you check them before you start driving – you will appreciate a clear windshield on the road!

Road salt is another issue in Michigan. It can damage your cars paint and cause serious rusting. Regular washes in the winter months will help keep the salt off your car. Waxing will also help by adding the extra barrier that the road salt must penetrate.

Packing Your Car For Winter Trips

• Keep your gas tank full. I regularly ride on fumes these days, looking for the cheapest price or hoping that the gas price will drop if I just scrape by till tomorrow. In the winter you  should keep at least a 1/4 or 1/2 tank for emergency situations – you might need to keep your heater running while you wait for a tow.
• Get a cell phone for your car. Some people buy an extra prepaid disposable phone, others get an extra battery or a car charger. If your cell phone regularly runs out of batteries try and have a back up method for calling in roadside emergencies.
• A standard first aid kit should be in your vehicle already, but make sure that yours has things like a blanket for cold weather. Also, get a windshield / ice scraper. If your defroster starts to fail it could help you get home or to your mechanics shop.

Finally, make sure you clean your car off as much as possible before you start driving. Many people leave snow buildup on the roof or trunk lid of their car. As soon as you start driving the wind will likely blow all that snow across your newly cleaned windshield. Another often missed area is over your headlights or taillights. You might not think about it depending on how light it is outside, but conditions can change quickly and the more visible you are the safer you are on the road.