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Winter is upon us, so if you were thinking of preparing your car for the snow and ice, now’s the right time to do it. Winterizing your car just before winter is a good idea, but don’t worry, it’s never too late. There are just a few things you need to take care of to make your car winterproof.
TIRES
This should be your main priority. The most important thing you can do is equip your vehicle with winter tires. Winter tires are specially built to handle the extreme cold. They have different threads and are made out of a different compound, compared to a summer or all-season tire. The rubber in non-winter tires can’t withstand extremely low temperatures so as the temperature drops below freezing, the compound hardens and loses its gripping properties. Winter tires meanwhile, don’t have that issue. The special compound engineered into them makes them extremely resistant to low temperatures, so they provide constant optimal grip.
ENGINE OIL
Just like any other substance, engine oil changes its properties depending on the temperature. In summer, this usually doesn’t cause an engine issue, as the oil is extremely fluid thanks to the hot temperatures. In winter, not so.  The outside temperature can impact the internal engine temperature and cause the oil to freeze or change viscosity, reducing its lubrication and heat-reduction properties. Using winter oils if you live in colder climates is recommended. 10W-30 oil is great for the summer for instance, but will fare worse in the winter. Something like a 5W-30 will serve you nicely. Consult your owner’s manual for your vehicles particular oil needs.
ENGINE COOLANT
Engine coolant is just as susceptible to freezing as the oil, if not more so. Engine coolant keeps your engine cool, and it preserves the engine from bad corrosion, but if the temperatures drop to freezing or below, the water in coolant can actually freeze and turn solid. To prevent this, cars run a mixture of water and ethylene glycol. In most cases, the ratio is 60/40 in favor of coolant, but it could be different for your manufacturer and model.
At Yark Auto Collision Center, the best auto body and collision repair service in Toledo, OH, we are more than happy to help you with winter car maintenance.
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