7 ways to keep your car running strong all winter long

Winter is just around the corner and unless you call Florida, the American Southwest or some other warm-weather climate home, that means you'll need to prepare your car for the upcoming season. Taking some precautionary measures now can help ensure that your car is well-equipped for the snow and ice that you can expect to find on the road, keeping you safe in the process.

It's also worth noting that being prepared can save you money! Equipping your car with everything it needs to battle the elements can help prevent unnecessary repairs, tows and last-minute purchases of needed items at higher seasonal rates.

Follow these seven steps and you'll be good to go!

1. Install Winter Tires.

Most cars generally come equipped with “all-season” tires. Unfortunately, despite the impressive name, all-season tires tend to perform quite poorly in snow and ice. For superior performance in snowy and icy conditions, you'll want a set of dedicated snow tires. Common features of snow tires include a narrower overall width (to better dig through snow), synthetic rubber compounds that are designed to operate in extremely low temperatures and tread blocks that can better pump snow and slush away. For ease of installation, you may want to consider getting a dedicated set of wheels for your snow tires as well.

2. Check Your Anti-Freeze.

Though everyone should check their anti-freeze before tackling winter weather, this tip is particularly useful for individuals with used cars. Overtime, radiators become worn out, radiator fluid replacements may be done haphazardly and leaks can occur. By ensuring that the fluid levels in your radiator are correct, no leaks are present and the radiator fluid itself is as prescribed by the manufacturer, you can help protect your engine. The last thing that you want is for your coolant to freeze!

3. Check Your Wiper Fluid.

Your wiper fluid, like your radiator fluid, contains chemicals that lower its freezing temperature. This allows it to remain a liquid even when the outside temperature dips below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. It is extremely important that you not use just water in your wiper tank reservoir (at least during winter time). If you have any experience with winter driving, you'll know that you will be using your wipers constantly – to remove falling snow as well as road grime kicked up by the vehicle in front of you. Use proper window wiper fluid so that you can see!

4. Check Your Battery.

Another precaution that owners of used cars should pay particular attention to is the health of their car's battery. In extreme weather, the battery will be placed under extra duress as the chemical reaction that produces electricity is impeded. Though a brand-new battery will be capable of providing sufficient electrical power even in extreme cold, a used battery may not. Also of note is that not only is your car's battery producing less electrical power, but the engine will likely be more difficult to turn over as well, as the engine oil will be at a much higher viscosity than during the summer time.

5. Buy Suitable Engine Oil.

Contrary to popular belief, the “W” in engine oil designations does not stand for “weight,” but rather “winter.” The W designation is a way of indicating whether your engine oil is rated for cold weather use or not. To keep your engine running properly in all weather conditions, it is highly recommended that you use the engine oil recommended by the vehicle's manufacturer (check your owner's manual; if you own a used car and don't have a manual, check with your mechanic) and use an engine oil with a “W” in its designation. The W will indicate that you can use the oil throughout the winter.

6. Prepare a Winter Emergency Kit.

If for any reason you find yourself stuck in cold weather, it is extremely important that you be prepared. A flat tire or a dead battery in summer time is a mere inconvenience, but in the winter time, being caught in the elements unprepared can be deadly. That is why you should always keep a winter emergency kit in your car during the cold months. Common items that you may want to consider storing in your trunk include emergency blankets, flashlights and flares, water (be sure to keep your water in a cooler – a cooler that can keep your water cold in the summer time can keep it warm in the winter time), snow chains and a jack and tire iron.

7. Wax Your Headlights.

This is a simple one! Wax your headlights before the snow starts falling, and you'll be able to easily wipe off accumulated snow before setting off. Whether you're leaving your house in the morning or your place of employment at the end of the day, this trick will help you be able to see clearly – and make your presence is known to other motorists!

Taken from: Guest Post (article, By Samantha Rivers), Google (images).