How to Maintain Your Car in Winter?
4 Answers
Winter car maintenance focuses on the wipers and windshield, as well as the body and chassis. Here is a detailed introduction to winter car maintenance: Wipers and Windshield: Due to weather conditions, wipers often stick to the windshield in winter. Do not force them off. Instead, turn on the car's air conditioning, set it to blow mode, and direct it toward the windshield to raise its temperature. This also helps check whether the heating system is functioning properly. Regularly clean the heating system to ensure good air quality inside the car. Body and Chassis: The car's exterior inevitably gets damaged while driving, and even when parked. In winter, with rain and snow, the car's surface is prone to corrosion. Roads are often treated with salt to melt snow quickly, and the tires can splash salt-laden snow water onto the chassis, causing rust. Therefore, before winter arrives, thoroughly inspect the car's body, repair any scratches promptly, and apply wax in early winter to protect the paint. A waxed body is less likely to get damp, and the chances of ice forming on the car in winter are significantly reduced. Additionally, perform anti-rust maintenance on the vehicle's chassis to extend its lifespan.
We northern veteran drivers know best about winter car maintenance. Snow tires are a must for anti-skid purposes, and tire pressure should be about 5% higher than in summer for stable driving on icy surfaces. Cold starts require a 30-second warm-up before moving to allow sufficient time for oil lubrication. Windshield washer fluid should be switched to an anti-freeze formula rated for -30°C. Never pour hot water on a frozen windshield—using a bank card to gently scrape is the safest method. Pay extra attention to the battery; if parked outdoors, start the car for 10 minutes every three days to recharge. Also, inspect the underbody armor, as road salt is highly corrosive. Parking in a garage is ideal, but if you must park outside, remember to lift the wipers to prevent them from freezing to the windshield overnight.
I've been driving a ride-hailing car for five years, covering 200 kilometers every day. Winter maintenance is directly related to earning efficiency. Use 0W-grade low-temperature-specific engine oil, and adjust the spark plug gap in advance to make cold starts easier. The cabin air filter must be replaced to ensure effective heating. Defogging tip: Turn on the external air circulation with the windshield vent mode. Always keep an emergency kit in the trunk, with an ice scraper, jumper cables, and snow chains being the most critical. Add a bottle of fuel additive when refueling to clean the fuel system and prevent low-temperature carbon buildup. After washing the car, drive for a while to remove moisture, or the door lock will freeze the next day.
As a female car owner, the most annoying thing in winter is defrosting. Starting the car remotely 20 minutes in advance to warm up the engine and turn on the heater to melt the ice is the easiest way. Spraying professional de-icer on the windshield or covering it with an old towel overnight also works. Applying a bit of Vaseline to the door seals prevents freezing, and adding a rubber cover to the wiper blades protects them. Before driving, always check the dashboard warning lights, especially the battery warning. Clean ice and small stones from the wheel gaps weekly. When washing the car, focus on rinsing the undercarriage to remove road salt. I also keep a spare pair of wool gloves in the glove box—leather steering wheels can be freezing. Don’t forget to check the memory card in the dash cam, as winter data is prone to issues.
