7 winter car maintenance tips for mechanics

How does cold weather affect your car? What can you do to protect your car from the winter season? As temperatures continue to drop, you may begin to notice signs that your car is having trouble. Cold weather can challenge your car from all angles. Local Chapel Hill Tire mechanics are ready to help with 7 cold weather vehicle maintenance tips and services.

1) Follow the recommended oil change schedule

An oil change is necessary all year round, but is especially important during the colder months. In cold weather, your oil and other motor fluids move more slowly, requiring your car to work harder. Dirty, contaminated and used engine oil can greatly increase this load. Double check to make sure you are following the manufacturer's recommended oil change schedule. If you're close to needing an oil change, it might be worth using this service a little earlier to protect your car from the winter weather. 

2) Watch your battery

While cold weather doesn't damage your battery, it can drain it. Combined with the fact that your car needs extra power to start due to slow moving engine oil, battery failure can leave drivers stranded during the winter. You can prevent battery problems by keeping the ends of the terminal clean and extending the life of the battery whenever possible. This includes turning off chargers and turning off lights when the vehicle is not running. You can also get a battery replacement at the first sign of a dying car battery. 

3) Park in the garage

Naturally, after sunset, the temperature gets colder, which makes this time the most vulnerable to your car. You can protect your car by parking it in a closed garage every night. While most garages don't have climate control, they can insulate your car from freezing temperatures as well as preventing morning ice from getting on your windshield. Just be sure to open the top garage door before starting the engine to keep exhaust fumes out of your home and car. 

4) Watch your tire pressure

As temperatures drop, the air inside the tires compresses. Low tire pressure can lead to a range of problems, including:

• Reduced fuel efficiency
• Poor vehicle handling
• Increased risk of sidewall damage 
• Increased and uneven tire wear

By maintaining the recommended pressure (as indicated on the tire information panel), you help protect your tires. Often you can even get free tire refills at your local mechanic shop.

5) Check your radiator, belts and hoses.

One of the lesser-known risks of cold weather is damage to the radiator, belts, and hoses. Radiator fluid is a mixture of antifreeze and water. While antifreeze has an impressive freezing point of -36℉ (hence the name), water has a freezing point of 32℉. So your radiator fluid is prone to partial freezing on cold winter nights. This is especially true if your fluid is old, contaminated, or depleted. Flushing the radiator with fluid will help protect the radiator. The mechanic will also check its supporting components, including belts and hoses, for signs of wear.

6) Full tire tread check

When snow and ice accumulate on the roads, your tires need to be extra sensitive to keep you safe. To protect yourself and your vehicle, you need to make sure your tires have at least 2/32 inch tread. You can read our guide to checking tire tread depth here. It is also necessary to monitor uneven tread wear and signs of rubber rotting. 

7) Headlight Bulb Testing and Restoration Services

Cold and dark winter days and nights will be a real test for your headlights. Double check that your headlights are bright and working properly. You may need a simple bulb replacement if you notice that one of your headlights is dim or burned out. If your headlights are dim or yellowing, this could be a sign of oxidized lenses. A headlight restoration service can solve this problem to keep you safe on the road during the darkest days of the year. 

Winter Car Care by Chapel Hill Tire

You can get the winter maintenance you need without even going to the mechanic's office with Chapel Hill's tire pickup and delivery service. We invite you to make an appointment here online or call us today to get started! Chapel Hill Tire proudly serves the greater Triangle area with 9 offices in Raleigh, Apex, Durham, Carrborough and Chapel Hill. We also serve surrounding communities including Wake Forest, Cary, Pittsboro, Morrisville, Hillsborough and more! Save time and hassle this holiday season when you enjoy driving with Chapel Hill tyres.

Back to resources