When the seasons change, there are different things we need to do to maintain our cars. In the Winter, failing to take care of your car can lead to damage to certain parts, and in some cases injuries. While Winter has certainly already hit in Canada, it’s never too late to incorporate these driving and maintenance tips to ensure the integrity of your vehicle is not compromised.
If your windshield gets damaged this Winter, give Wizard Auto Glass a call to repair your windshield in Mississauga.
Pouring a Bucket of Hot Water on the Windshield
You should never pour a bucket of hot water on your windshield as a de-icing method. The temperature difference between your cold windshield and the shot water can crack your windshield. This is is especially harmful if you already have damage to your windshield. The hot water gets into the crack and expands, leading to an even bigger crack, or breaking the windshield entirely. Don’t be lazy, use an ice scraper instead.
Windshield Wipers
Forgetting to change windshield wipers is extremely easy, and potentially very damaging in terms of car maintenance. If you are noticing streaks being left behind by your windshield wipers, it’s a sign that they need to be changed. Windshield wipers are essential in order to ensure your safety while driving, as they ensure your visibility on the road. Failing to do so can not only leave you at risk for an accident, but those streaks you are seeing could hide a small crack or chip in your windshield, leaving time for it to get worse and eventually break your windshield.
Warming the Car
No one wants to climb into a freezing cold car is not fun, and warming up your car is fine – for a few minutes. Car engines are not designed to idle for long periods of time; if an engine is left idling for too long, it can cause buildup on the spark plugs, which makes them less efficient. Plus, it makes your engine use up more gas, which means you need to spend more money to fill up more often.
Keeping Up with the Amount of Gas in Your Car
While in the Summer you don’t have to worry too much if your gas tank drops, but in the Winter months, you’ll have to fill up more frequently. The moist air in an empty, or near-empty, tank of gas can lead to freezing, which can cause ice to form in the fuel lines. This can lead to damage to the internal parts of your car.
Tire Pressure
Winter brings more compressed air due to the cooler temperatures, and as a result the pressure in your tires is reduced every 10-degree drop in the temperature. It is important to get the pressure in your tires checked throughout the winter. It is also a good idea to keep an emergency portable air pump and pressure gauge in your car in case the pressure in your tires drops too much