Winterize your car: How beat the deep freeze
If you are unable to park your car in a garage, protecting it from the elements can be difficult.
As fall sets in, morning temperatures have dipped near freezing in Charlotte.
Without proper maintenance, low temperatures can lead to underinflated tires, faulty car batteries and brittle windshield wipers, according to CarAndDriver, an automotive enthusiast publication.
Try these tips to keep your vehicles free from cold weather wear and tear:
How to care for your car when it gets cold
AutoTrader, an online marketplace for car buyers and sellers, advises several suggestions to care for your car as temperatures dip that include:
Check your headlights
Make sure your car battery is in good condition
Make sure your car isn’t low on coolant
Fill up your gas tank and washer fluid
Invest in winter tires
Keep track of your tire pressure
Test your defroster and heater
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Should you warm your engine before driving your car?
Running your engine before driving your car on a cold day is assumed to be a good idea, but there’s no need to let your car idle for more than a minute, according to Consumer Reports.
Although some drivers prefer to start their cars long before they get on the road, the fastest way to warm up an engine is by driving, the consumer product research organization said.
Driving is also the most efficient way to quickly warm the inside of your car, too.
What about electric vehicles?
Colder temperatures can reduce an electric vehicle’s range by 20%, and recharging their batteries usually takes longer when it’s cold outside, Consumer reports said.
Using accessories like the cabin heater, seat heater and defroster can reduce its range even more, Consumer Reports added. To reduce the impact of cold weather, electric vehicles should be parked in garages where they can remain on a charger.
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This story was originally published October 18, 2022 at 12:14 PM.
