As we head closer to the winter months in Maryland, it’s a good time to prepare your vehicle for cold and snowy conditions. As temperatures begin to drop, your vehicle will begin to behave differently. In some cases, your vehicle may begin to suffer damage, both internally and externally, resulting in massive problems for you.

We here at Shaffer Ford want to share several ways you can prepare your vehicle for winter and how you can save yourself time and headaches on the road. If you are concerned about your vehicle, we encourage you to reach out to us and schedule an appointment.

Preparing Your Vehicle for Winter

One of the first and most vital things you can do to prepare for winter is checking your tire pressures to make sure the pressures are up for your daily. When cold weather hits, the pressure in your tires will lower as a result. This causes you to lose fuel economy in addition to excess wear on the tires.

If you are constantly inundated with snow, it may be a good idea to fit snow tires for greater traction on road surfaces.

Another important component to get tested is the main vehicle battery. In cold weather, your battery begins to lose capacity due to lessening the chemical reaction that creates the charge. One way to ensure your battery capacity stays high is by parking your vehicle in an in-door environment like a garage or parking deck.

A couple of other things to keep in mind for your daily drive are checking your lights as well as replacing windshield wipers. During the winter, your head and taillights need to be in good working order when in snowy or foggy conditions. Moreover, it would help if you made sure other drivers can see you as well.

Regarding your windshield wipers, getting them replaced along with the windshield washer fluid can fight against ice accumulation. It is also a good to carry along an ice scraper to be safe.