When winter comes to Minnesota, it can feel like a completely different state, especially when you’re driving. From subzero temperatures that your car struggles to start in to relentless flurries of snow, driving during the winter in Minnesota can be a harrowing experience if you’re not prepared.
If you don’t want to be caught unprepared when you can see your breath in the air and snow starts blanketing the roads, then you need to perform winterization for your vehicle. There are several steps to take, and some might require the aid of a trusted auto maintenance shop. Here’s your vehicle winterization checklist for Minnesota.
5 Steps to Prepare Your Vehicle for a Minnesota Winter
- Equip Winter Tires – The worst part of winter driving in Minnesota is the slippery conditions that snow and ice can create on the roads. To mitigate these treacherous road conditions, you should swap to winter tires once the snow starts falling. Winter tires are designed for superior traction on slippery roads and they’re also more flexible in cold weather. While winter tires won’t completely protect you when the roads get bad, they’ll greatly reduce the risk of a total spinout and help you avoid accidents.
- Check Your Battery – The batteries in cars and trucks perform the best in warm weather. While they’ll still function in Minnesota’s winters as long as they’re in good shape, a battery that already has issues is likely to die in the middle of winter. You would be wise to make sure that your battery is fully charged and in good shape before temperatures begin dipping under 0º. If you’re not sure what you’re looking for, bring your car into an auto maintenance shop for a battery inspection and, if necessary, a battery replacement.
- Inspect Your Brakes – Good, responsive brakes are of the utmost importance in the dead of winter, when you might count on them in a life-or-death situation. Because of this, you should check on your car’s brakes before winter in Minnesota. Make sure your brakes have enough fluid and, just to be extra safe, you might want to bring your automobile to a good mechanic for a brake inspection.
- Use the Right Level of Antifreeze – Just as the name suggests, the purpose of antifreeze is to keep the water in your car or truck’s engine from freezing during subzero temperatures, which is especially vital in Minnesota. Most vehicles need to have an even mix of water and antifreeze in the tank but you should consult your manual for verification. If the weather is cold enough, your car might need more antifreeze than water in the solution to prevent freezing.
- Check Your Hoses – The intensely cold weather during Minnesota’s winter can cause your vehicle’s rubber hoses to crack and leak. When the temperature drops below zero, inspect your heater and radiator hoses to make sure they haven’t sustained damage. Even if you don’t find any obvious leaks, make sure your hose is nice and firm; if it’s strangely soft or brittle, this is a sign that the hose’s integrity is compromised and it needs to be repaired or replaced.
Get Your Vehicle Winterized by the Pros
If you’re concerned about your vehicle’s performance this winter, let your local auto mechanics give it a full range of winterization services. Call Arvu Auto today to schedule winter tire changes, brake inspections or any other services for your vehicle in the West Minneapolis metro!
