Seven Tips for Winterizing Your Car

The first snow in Washington D.C. is always a magical time, but it can also be quite dangerous. The wet pavement and the slippery roads make driving difficult, and you should protect your vehicle as much as possible to avoid mechanical failure. Start your winter with a visit with our Service experts so you are prepared for the change in seasons. Here are some winter car care tips that will help keep your car safe even on those coldest days of winter.

1. Fill up your tank with gas: Snow and ice are heavy, meaning that you will burn through more fuel than usual on your commute through Arlington, VA, when it's falling outside. You should always make sure to fill up before the winter hits to avoid running out of gas on a cold day.
2. Warm up your car: Always let your engine run for around five minutes before you head off to work in Baltimore, even if it's just a short trip. Letting the fluids circulate in the engine will warm them up to flow more efficiently throughout the system and prevent corrosion or other damage while driving on frozen roads.
3. Check your battery: If you do not have a garage to park in, you should make sure that the temperature of you're parking is somewhere warm so that it does not freeze overnight. This will keep the battery from dying before you get to your destination, and it also keeps condensation off of critical electrical components like the starter solenoid or alternator.
4. Check your tires: Make sure that you have the correct winter tire pressure for where you are driving around Waldorf, MD, and if they are getting low, then fill them up with air before it's too cold to drive on them at all. Also, remember to check your spare tire in case of a flat so that no matter what happens during the day, you can still get home.
5. Check your windshield wipers: Make sure you have new wiper blades on the car or at least an excellent wax to keep them from freezing together with ice and snow buildup. If they are beginning to wear out, then now is the time to replace them before it gets any colder outside.
6. Check your headlights: New bulbs can cut through any falling snow and ice on the roads in Annapolis, MD, even when it's pitch black outside.
7. Check your emergency kit: Jumper cables, a flashlight with extra batteries, flares, or reflective triangles can be a lifesaver if you are stuck in the snow. Keep this kit in the car in case of an accident so that other drivers can see it and avoid crashing into you when conditions are at their worst.

These simple car care tips should help keep your car safe on the road even in the worst weather conditions. The service team at Fitzgerald Cadillac of Annapolis is here to take care of you. Search our current service specials and offers to find cost-saving promotions on your next winter service.