Canadian winters are notoriously harsh and can throw all kinds of unexpected weather our way. Sometimes this can make your drive a harrowing adventure, so it’s important to be prepared.
Here are some tips to ensure that you and your car make it through the season unscathed.
Consider switching to a winter weight oil. Viscosity varies with temperature, so your car may benefit from a different weight of engine oil in the winter. In the most extreme cold weather, a lighter-weight engine oil will improve engine start-up and provide better lubrication during the colder months.
Check your tire pressures (including your spare tire) at least once per month this winter – every 5°C change in temperature results in about a 7 kPa (1 psi) change in tire pressure. Properly inflated tires last longer, make your vehicle safer to drive, and can improve your fuel efficiency by 3.3 percent.
Keep your gas tank at least half full. Maintaining at least a half tank of gas will limit condensation inside the gas tank and prevent your gas line from freezing during the colder months. Adding a small amount of gas-line anti-freeze every other fill-up can also help to prevent freezing.
Check and/or replace your battery. Very cold temperatures will reduce your car’s battery power, so it’s important to keep the connections clean, tight and corrosion-free. If your battery is more than five years old, you should also consider replacing it.
Use the right engine coolant. As strange as it sounds, your cooling system is one of the most important things to watch during the winter. In most parts of Canada, a 50/50 mix of coolant and water keeps the coolant from freezing, lubricates the water pump and protects the cooling system from corrosion. In very cold areas you may need to adjust the mixture, but your coolant concentration should never exceed 70 percent.
Check your brakes. When you need to stop on slick and icy roads, every second counts. Check your brakes for wear and tear and buy yourself some time to stop by replacing worn brake pads.
Check your exhaust system for leaks. Leaks in the exhaust can be especially dangerous during cold weather driving when windows are closed. Be sure to check your exhaust system at least once per year to be safe.
Check your lights. Over time, your lights may dim or burn out completely, and the plastic in your light covers will degrade and cloud, leading to distorted and dimmed illumination. Be sure to replace both your bulbs, and consider restoring your headlight lenses to maintain high-quality lighting. Lightly waxing your headlight covers can also help prevent the build-up of ice and snow on your lights during the cold and dark winter months.
Avoid using cruise control. You should never use your cruise control on wet, snowy or icy roads. If you hydroplane or skid, your tires will rapidly spin as your car accelerates to attempt to maintain its speed, making it more likely to lose control.
Pack an emergency kit. Never leave home without a safety kit in the winter. Make sure that you have a shovel, a snow/ice brush, jumper cables or a battery pack, extra windshield washer fluid, and warm clothes or a blanket in case you get stranded.
Winter driving is no funny business, so be sure to slow down, be patient, and remember that there is no shame in being overly cautious. If you feel uncomfortable continuing to drive in poor conditions, find a safe place to pull over and wait it out, or just stay at home until the weather clears.