The transition from summer to fall and eventually into winter is an exciting one in the Chicagoland area. However, with that transition comes different maintenance tasks to complete for your vehicle to be sure it’s running in tiptop shape during the colder months. In our first blog of the month, we at Patrick Cars have outlined three important things to check before it’s time to bundle up.
1. Check your battery
Your battery is an important component of your vehicle that can often get forgotten about when it comes to car maintenance. When it comes to preparing your car for winter, it is paramount that you make sure you check your battery and replace it if needed. Car batteries tend to die in the winter due to added strain placed on them by the colder temperatures. We recommend you purchase a battery tester to make sure your battery is ready to go.
2. Check your tires
Colder weather seemingly affects everything, and your tires are going to be affected when the temperatures drop. Tire pressure is dependent on your vehicle’s specifications, but typically, it’s between 30 and 35 PSI. Tire pressure can really drop in colder weather with every 10-degree reduction in temperature leading to tires losing one PSI of air. When tires are not properly inflated it can affect gas mileage and tire wear as well. It is also recommended to, if needed, replace your tires.
3. Change your wiper blades
Colder and even sub-freezing temperatures can cause the rubber on some windshield wiper blades to become brittle and break. It’s recommended that you consider changing out your wiper blades for ones that are made for harsher climates. However, you can also just make sure that the ones you have are not too old and worn. It is recommended to replace your wiper blades every six months.
These are just a few tips on how to prepare your vehicle for winter. On the brightside, our service team at Patrick Cars can handle all of these tasks for you, and can even recommend other service needs your vehicle may need to prepare for the winter. To schedule service with Patrick Cars online click here or give us a call at 888-858-7418
