As we move into Winter 2020 and 20201, it’s essential that all vehicle owners ensure that their vehicles are prepared for the temperature fluctuations associated with changing seasons. Cars are delicate and sensitive machinery that need custom care, as their internal mechanics are strongly affected by both heat and cold. Here’s a guide as prepared by the expert professional towing service and vehicle roadside recovery service at Chicago Towing as to the best ways to help your car stay safe in changing seasons.

Servicing

Make sure that you get your car’s oil changed and engine serviced, ensuring that it will run fine throughout the coming weather. By servicing your car at the start of every new season, you remove any latent issues that can professionally be exacerbated by the weather. Make sure to check the fuel tank, and keep it full to make sure that ice doesn’t grow on fuel lines if your area is experiencing some late Winter freezing.

Windshield and Windows

Cold can damage windows and windshields, leaving chips or cracks in their glass, or severely worsening existing chips or cracks. If left unattended, this damage can become serious, and the worse it gets the more expensive it will be to repair it. If windows aren’t fully sealed, your car’s engine will work with much more strain in order to compensate to heat your car, leading to increased gas consumption and higher bills.

Oil

Cold weather thickens a car’s engine oil. Even if oil simply thickens and doesn’t freeze, it’s weird and unctuous texture can mess with the flow of fuel in your car, placing strain on the engine which can quickly wear it out. Most oil comes treated with an anti thickening agent within it – but just to be careful and stay safe, ask your mechanic whether it does when you bring your vehicle in to get serviced.

Emergency Readiness Kits

Make sure that your car always has an emergency readiness kit including items like first aid kits, a warm blanket, clothing, gloves, scarfs, a phone charger, and a pre-charged extra phone battery or external battery pack. This helps you avoid the stress of potentially being stranded if your vehicle has issues (but hopefully it won’t since you made sure to get it checked by a mechanic at the beginning of the Season) as well as helping you stay prepared for every safety scenario. As an added benefit, following these safety tips will help make your car less susceptible to breakdowns, and in the process, save you money on your auto insurance bill!