How To Prepare Your Car For Winter

Preparing your car for winter doesn't have to feel like a Herculean task. Follow the simple steps below to winterize your vehicle and you'll soon be ready for the changing season. By installing winter wiper blades, keeping your gas tank half-full, and getting seasonal new tires and a synthetic or 5W oil change at Quantrell Cadillac, you can take control of preparing your car for winter.

How To Prepare Your Car for Winter

Autumn leaves are dotting the trees, and winter is fast approaching, so now is the perfect time to learn how to prepare your car for winter. Even the newest models with their elevated technology can benefit from winterization, and preparing your car for winter will increase your safety on the road, too.

Whether fall temperatures are holding steady or you've already been hit by a subzero evening, it's never too late to get started. Use our helpful "preparing your car for winter" checklist below to make sure your vehicle is ready for any snow, ice, and freezing temperatures that may come your way.

Preparing Your Car for Winter Checklist

Follow this five-step guide to preparing your car for winter created by the Quantrell Cadillac team to make sure you and your vehicle are ready for inclement winter weather.

• Check Your Battery Power: As temperatures drop, battery power decreases. Batteries that are older or already struggling to start could leave you stranded without a way to get to work. Schedule service to get a battery checkup or replacement and make sure your car can start each winter morning.
• Inspect Your Brakes: Icy road conditions call for top-performing brakes, so be sure to have yours thoroughly examined before the snow arrives. The salt used to melt frozen roadways can also cause corrosion on your brake lines, calipers, pads, shoes, or rotors, so it's a good idea to get your entire braking system checked before each winter season rolls around.
• Get New Tires: All-season tires are a bit of a misnomer – yes, they can handle a small amount of cold, but they will harden at below-freezing temperatures. For optimal winter performance, your vehicle will need new tires that are specifically designed to resist hardening and provide better traction in slush, snow, and ice.

• Switch Out Your Wiper Blades: Winter wiper blades use rubber to stop ice from sticking. They're heavier than everyday wipers, so they can handle the weight of snow. Visit us for a wiper blade replacement, and when it's spring again, come back to our service center to have your normal blades reinstalled.
• Don't Forget Antifreeze and an Oil Change: Motor oil is measured by thickness, and you'll want to use a very thin oil that can flow easily when you prepare your car for winter. Schedule an oil change at our service center and we'll prime your engine with synthetic or low-viscosity oil. We'll also check your antifreeze level to make sure it's high enough to protect your vehicle.

Where Can You Winterize Your Vehicle?

The expert technicians at the Quantrell Cadillac service center have decades of experience with winterizing vehicles and know exactly how to prepare your car for winter. You can follow our "preparing your car for winter" checklist above for DIY winterization or leave the work to us.

Have additional questions about preparing your car for winter? Contact us and we'll steer you in the right direction. Your safety is our priority – let's work together to get your vehicle winter-ready!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I prepare my car for extremely cold weather?

Preparing your car for winter can be quick and easy when you schedule an appointment at the Quantrell Cadillac service center, where our team can follow these five simple steps to get your car winter-ready:

• Check your battery
• Inspect your brakes
• Install winter tires
• Switch your standard wiper blades with winter wiper blades
• Ask for a winter oil change and antifreeze check

What needs to be done to winterize a car?

Many steps can be taken to winterize a vehicle, including swapping everyday wipers for winter wiper blades, replacing oil with a synthetic or low-viscosity blend, and changing all-season tires for new tires specifically designed for freezing temperatures. The best method of preparing your car for winter is to schedule an inspection at our service department, where we can check all your major systems.

Will my car freeze without antifreeze?

Yes, a car that has little or no antifreeze in its system will usually stop functioning within minutes. This lack of antifreeze can lead to severe and expensive damage that might require a complete engine replacement, so making sure your vehicle's antifreeze level is optimal before winter sets in is key. Check your antifreeze at home or schedule a checkup at the Quantrell Cadillac service center!