During the winter, your car is subject to extreme cold, frost, ice, and snow. Here’s a few tips on how to protect your car from snow.
Park Your Car in a Covered Garage
Keep your car away from snow by parking inside a covered garage. It’s perfect if you have a garage. You don’t need to have air conditioning in your garage. The important thing is to provide shelter and protection for your car.
If you don’t have a covered garage, the next best thing is to install a carport or a car awning or a detached shed. This can help your car avoid the bulk of the snow.
Protect Your Car with Frost Guard or Cardboard
If you live in an apartment without a garage or if you only have off-street parking, then you have no choice. Your car will be subject to the elements whether you want it or not. But there are some solutions you can use.
First wall of the car, the windshield can often be covered with snow or frost, especially if the car is outside. To avoid having to defrost the windshield every morning, placing a cardboard on the windshield during the night is one of the most effective car protection in winter.
The best thing about this? It’s free! But if you’re in a city with lots of snow and wind, the cardboard may not stay put and may be blown away.
Another alternative is the plastic tarpaulin or frost guard that covers the entire vehicle. Read our article on Frost Guards to see if they work for you. In case your frost, ice, or snow cover your windshield, never use hot water to remove them. The difference in temperature may weaken your windshield.
Protect Your Car Battery from the Cold
The car battery can take some beating during the winter. Cold temperature may take a toll on your battery. Before winter, check your battery’s charge level. You can buy a device to do this. Or have your battery checked for free! To prepare for the coldest season of the year, you can cover the battery terminals with grease.
Keep your gas tank full.
A tank with a low fuel level invites condensation and water contamination.
Although modern cars are built to withstand any shocks and temperature changes, they are made to run well when outside temperatures drop below freezing point. Bringing your car for a technical check before winter makes it possible to check all these things and more. The mechanic will be able to ensure that the belts and hoses are in good condition, that the windshield de-icing function is working properly and that there is sufficient antifreeze fluid.
Wash Your Car Regularly in Winter, especially after a big snowstorm
During the winter winter, the roads are often salty to remove frost and facilitate tire adhesion. Road salt is particularly aggressive for your car, especially the tires and the sill. It is therefore essential to wash your car more often in winter to prevent corrosion from degrading its condition.
Do not hesitate to go to the car wash. I know it’s cold and you may not want to touch any kind of water outside. But to prevent rust, you need to wash your car.
