Our Rides: Winterizing Your Vehicle For Your Good Health

No matter what climate change will serve us every winter, it is always good to be prepared when you have to get in your vehicle to go anywhere.

Being prepared for anything that winter serves up is a healthy approach to living. Your physical and mental health depends on how you go from the warmth of your home or workplace to your vehicle and out on the road.

To get there, there are a few things to take into consideration when being prepared for your winter journeys no matter the distance and conditions. More importantly, to winterize your vehicle to manage those journeys.

We spoke to Bob Larkin, Director of Automotive Technology at Dunwoody College to get some insights on what we should do to make sure our vehicles are ready for winter. The first thing that came to mind is keep up with maintenance. “Regular maintenance is the key,” explained Larkin. “Cars that are regularly maintained to the way the manufacturer recommends. Really, it’s there to prevent systems from failing and things like that. Regular oil changes keep everything lubricated. Regular cooling flushes are important. A lot of times the base materials aren’t necessarily what’s breaking down, but it’s all the additives that they have to put in these things that, over time, get broken down.”

One common piece of a vehicle’s maintenance routine is the battery that runs the electrical system, which can be vulnerable to colder temperatures. Especially older batteries. Larkin suggests to have the battery checked “making sure that that’s in a good state,” adds Larkin.

We would also add to have your brakes checked, as well. Especially when road conditions are not the best, having the ability to stop is critical. When you do bring in your vehicle for maintenance, have your mechanic inspect your brakes for pad/shoe wear and rotor/drum condition.

Why do you want to have your vehicle maintained during the winter? “Particularly here in the Twin Cities,” explained Larkin, “we get cars that are driven short trips that don’t get up to the mileage at the times that the manufacturers recommend changing oil, changing fluids and things like that. I think those cars, in particular, that are short tripped, it’s a good idea to get that car in, get that fluid changed out so we don’t build up of moisture and things like that from short trips.”

Tires are critical. It is where the rubber meets the road. On most tires, the snow and ice on the roadways could create a challenge to maintain traction and grip, even on short drives.

Recently, we put on a set of Michelin X-Ice winter tires on a 2021 Mazda CX-5. These tires have a softer, pliable compound and a more aggressive tread pattern. These Michelins are considered one of the best winter tire around. Nokian, Bridgestone, and General are among other tire manufacturers that offer highly rated winter tires.

There are a few tips on winter tires. One, check the air temperature before switching from your usual tires. Two, make sure that these tires are at the right air pressure for your vehicle. Three, be prepared to adjust the tire’s air pressure when traction is challenging. Lastly, store them away and cover them when they are not in use. That way, you protect them from variations in temperatures.

One thing that has been brought up over time is the necessity of having a survival kit in your vehicle. This is in the case you get stranded miles away from home and miles from any place to stop. Being stranded is not one of the things you plan for, but having some things in your vehicle to keep you warm and secure would probably ease the pain of dealing with extreme weather events and closed roadways.

What should you have in a survival kit? Larkin explained, “At the very minimum, at least some extra boots, things like that. But even a car in good condition, one that has been maintained, it can have an issue. Having that little survival kit certainly could be a benefit. I think they talk about a lot of times having some water, having some protein bars, protein snacks, things like that. It doesn’t have to be an elaborate kit, but just something to get you by for a couple hours potentially, if need be. Make sure you got your jackets and your gloves. You don’t know what’s going to happen.”

The bottom line is simple: “Making sure you’re ready for winter is to prevent you from being stranded out on the road,” Larkin explained. “Especially as the temperatures get colder, things have a tendency to fail when they get colder. Keeping up on the maintenance will help to prevent that.”

Are you ready to tackle the rest of this winter? Or, any winter in the future? Having your vehicle winter-ready is good for your soul – and your overall health. It is one less thing to worry about when you have to drive in our usual Minnesota/Upper Midwest climate.