Winter has a range of distinct environmental factors that can affect vehicles – ranging from the casual to the seriously dangerous. Here’s a guide to some essential Winter vehicle maintenance tips as prepared by the heavy duty towing experts here at Chicago Towing.

Oil Changes

Make sure to change your oil as the weather starts to get colder, since cold weather makes older oil more susceptible to freezing as the engine stays colder in general. You need to make sure your engine is properly lubricated for it to stay in quality condition.

Heaters and Defrosters

Make sure that your heaters and defrosters are working in quality condition, since you don’t ever want a frozen windshield that you’ll have to scrape in the morning when you’re in a rush to get somewhere.

Vehicle Batteries

Cold weather and the increased use of heaters can make vehicle batteries more strained in the Winter, so it’s important to check the quality of your battery and replace it if it’s degraded. CLean the connectors of your battery to make sure there’s no corrosion and that the wires are connected right.

Vehicle Lights

Since the nights in Winter are longer, make sure that all your lights are working properly. This includes your brake lights, emergency lights, head lights, and tail lights. Clean dust, dirt, and even possible dead bugs off your lights for optimal functionality. 

Windshield Wipers

Make sure windshield wipers are clean and not broken to ensure that they can properly clean off the windshield in rain or snow – otherwise, you are taking a risk on your visibility that can pose a serious danger. Replace windshield wipers right away if they are cracked or worn down!

Tires

Make sure your tire pressure levels are correct, and refill them with air if they have low air. Make sure to also inspect the tire treads for wear, and replace the tires if they are unevenly worn down or generally worn down too much.