While our cars may have cruised through the warmth of the summer without any trouble, cold weather can set in before we even notice the leaves have fallen from the trees – just another reason to remember how important it is to get our cars ready for winter driving in the fall, otherwise we could find ourselves left out in the cold.

Following a simple maintenance checklist can save you time and money by extending the life of your car and insuring that you have fewer problems in the winter months, so to keep our cars running as smoothly as possible in cooler weather, here are some good tips:

Tires

Tires lose pressure every month and even more so when the temperatures drop. To maintain proper pressure, it’s good to get in the routine of checking tires monthly to be sure they’re filled up to their recommended psi rating (which can be found on the driver’s side door paneling, in the owner’s manual or sometimes on the tires themselves).

Check the tread on the tires for wear and replace them if they’re excessively worn.  If it’s been over 5,000 miles since your tires have last been rotated, it’s a good idea to have it done since there’s a risk of having one tire wear more significantly than the others.

Finally, if you live in an area where the temperature consistently hits the freezing point during winter months and snow vastly accumulates, now is the time to begin looking for winter tires.

Oil

Lower temperatures can add stress on your engine. To prevent engine wear, change your oil and oil filter as specified in your manual. A switch to synthetic oil, if you’re not using it already, will help your car operate more efficiently.  Synthetic motor oils are specifically designed to protect your engine in wide temperature ranges.

Cooling System

Now is the time to check the cooling system (radiator) for any leaks and top up low levels. If needed, it should be flushed and refilled as recommended in the owner’s manual.

Don’t remove the radiator cap until the engine has thoroughly cooled.

While coolant is usually associated with warmer weather, the coolant – or antifreeze – is just as important in the colder months to ensure your car can withstand the winter temperatures.  A 50/50 mix of anti-freeze and water is the usual recommendation.

Full Engine Tune-Up

If you haven’t taken your car in for its annual tune-up, or haven’t done it yourself yet, now is the time to get it done. Cooler weather only makes existing problems worse, so a tune-up will correct any engine problems, such as stalling and diminished power, and will also ensure that all fluid levels for brakes, transmission, windshield washer, etc. are topped off or replaced if needed.

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