Driving in winter is a whole lot different from driving in other seasons. Heavy snow and slippery roads can damage your vehicle and get you stranded if you haven’t prepared for it.
Prepare your Toyota for winter during the fall season. It will make you ready for the cold months ahead. You wouldn’t want to experience being stuck in the middle of the road, with the freezing temperature outside and with no mechanic at sight.
Avoid getting yourself into this situation, and make sure to winterize your Toyota
Here are some tips:
1. Change Your Wiper Blades and Wiper Fluids
You need to have a good set of winter wipers to ensure that you have good visibility during the season. Worn out wipers can cause streaks on your windshield, thus resulting in invisibility.
Winter blades are made especially for the season. Its rubber is resistant to freezing, that’s why it can clear better during the cold. You also have to prepare for winterized washer fluid because winter blades may have difficulty breaking the ice away.
2. Get Winter Tires
Replace your summer tires with winter ones. If you have driven on a snowy road, you’d understand how hopeless having summer tires during winter is.
Then install some tire cables for better grip. Worn-out tires increase stopping distance, thus becoming a leading cause of winter car accidents.
Also, make sure to check on your tire pressure since it is known to drop during the winter season. If you have underinflated tires, your tires will wear faster and can lead to sliding on roads covered by snow.
3. Check Brakes
Driving on an icy road means needing to have strong stopping power. Ensure that your brakes are in top condition to ensure safety when driving on snowy roads. Inspect your brake pads and rotors and change them if necessary.
If you’ve already noticed some grinding or wheezing, it’s time to visit a Toyota Mechanic OKC.
4. Prepare an Emergency Kit
Better prepared than sorry. Place an emergency kit in your Toyota in case of emergency. Being in an emergency is already hard enough, but having your emergency kit with you can make it bearable.
Make sure to have a flashlight, coolant, small shovel, road flares, blanket, tire chains, leather gloves, ice scraper, extra clothes, food, water, and first aid kit.
There are times when we really can’t avoid emergencies, no matter how we prepare for them. The next best thing is to be prepared for it.
5. Wash and Detail
Get your Toyota waxed in preparation for the winter season. It adds a layer of protection against ice and snow. Having your vehicle cleaned and sealing it with wax can prevent dirt and grime from damaging it.
The winter cold usually dulls your paint and brings damage to your clear coat. Road salt can also make your car vulnerable to oxidation and rust. Avoid having these problems and get your car waxed.
6. Change Your Oil
The cold weather can lead the oil in your engine to thicken, resulting in difficulty in starting the vehicle and inadequate lubrication. If you have one of the older Toyotas, check your owner’s manual or visit a Toyota Mechanic OKC.
7. Check Your Batteries
Batteries’ power can be reduced to 50% because of the cold weather. It can expire without warning and sometimes during the worst moments. Don’t place yourself in this situation and have your battery tested before the winter season.
Buy a new one if needed and check battery cables and terminals, too. The cables should not be worn out or cracked, and terminals must not be loose.
Winterize Your Car with a Toyota Mechanic OKC
Leave the winterizing of your car to the experts. Toyota Mechanic OKC is experts in making sure your car will be ready for the winter. Please bring your car to a Toyota mechanic and let them do the work for you.
Sleet, snow, or ice – there’s nothing your vehicle can’t handle with the winterized care from Toyota.