Top Five Tips to Maintain Your Car in the Winter #Giveaway

Tracy Knutsen

Ice, rain, snow and freezing temperatures can wreak havoc on your car. To keep your family safe on the slippery roads this winter, it’s important to take a few simple winterization steps.  According to the International Carwash Association, proper maintenance can also go a long way in helping preserve the investment in your vehicle. Here are their top five tips to maintain your car in the winter:

1. Switch engine oil

Oil lubricates the engine so it can function properly, but not all automobile oil is the same. If you live in a cold climate, consider switching to a thinner, less viscous oil. For example, a 10W-30 might be ideal for hot summer weather, but a thicker 5W-30 is better for when temperatures dip below freezing. Ask your auto mechanic what is recommended and refer to the manufacturer’s manual for more insight.

2. Maintain a car wash routine

Due to the presence of ice, salt and sand on the roads, washing your vehicle in the winter is even more important than the summer. Getting a car wash and a fresh coat of wax before the temperature begins to drop can be your first line of defense against winter elements. Vehicular corrosion occurs most quickly when the temperature rises and falls below freezing. The International Carwash Association recommends finding a car wash that is part of the WaterSavers® program. There are more than 1,500 environmentally friendly car washes worldwide enrolled in the program that meet water quality and usage standards.  These car washes use 40 gallons (151.5 liters) or less of fresh water per car. Find a participating car wash near you by visiting www.washwithwatersavers.com.

Maintain your car in the winter

3. Check the battery

Cold weather can take a toll on your car’s battery. Before you get stranded, give your battery a once-over to make sure it’s in tip-top shape. Check the cables, terminals and fluid and look for anything abnormal. Some battery retailers will conduct a complementary car battery assessment if you’d prefer an expert analysis.

4. Update engine coolant

Just because it’s chilly doesn’t mean your engine can’t overheat. To protect your engine against corrosion and to help ensure it doesn’t overheat, ask your car technician to change to a coolant with ethylene glycol which has antifreeze properties. While replacing coolants, ask the technician to make sure all fluids are topped off, including window washer solution.

5. Get a grip on tire safety

They see me rollin’ Free Image Download

If you live in an area where winter means driving in snow and ice, it’s critical to check your tires to keep you and your passengers safe. Each tire should have an adequate amount of tread to properly grip the road. You can easily see if new tires are needed with the penny test — hold a penny head down in the center tread. If you see the top of Lincoln’s head, you have less than 2/32-inch tread and it’s time for new tires.  Also be sure to your tires are properly inflated to ensure optimum handling, safety, and fuel efficiency.

Taking the time to properly winterize your car not only ensures the comfort and safety of you and your family but also helps you maintain the value of your car for many winters to come.

 

Ready to win?!?  Our friends at Water Savers have kindly offered a Gift Pack to a lucky Nest Full of New reader!  The pack consists of:

 1 x Large travel bag

1 x $30 Visa Gift Card

1 x Compass, flashlight key chain

All you have to do is three things!

  1. Make sure you’re following Nest Full of New on Facebook.

  2. Sign up for Nest Full of New updates on the homepage (enter your email address in the space in the upper right corner.)

  3. Visit the Wash With Water Savers website and leave a comment here about something interesting you learned.

  4. BONUS ENTRY: Leave a comment on another Nest Full of New post and tell me which one you visited here.

That’s it! This will close at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, December 14 and the winner will be randomly selected and notified within three days of the end of the giveaway period. (Open to U.S. addresses only.)

 

For more information visit www.washwithwatersavers.com

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Carwash Association. The opinions and text are all mine.

Comments submitted may be displayed on other websites owned by the sponsoring brand.

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85 thoughts on “Top Five Tips to Maintain Your Car in the Winter #Giveaway”

  1. I learned that using a WaterSavers wash ensures that you are using less water than regular driveway or pavement washing, and that all runoff water is returned safely to the environment.

  2. Email subscriber and Follow on facebook- Shelly Peterson. I learned that WaterSavers car washes prevent water pollution by routing wash water to treatment prior to its return to the environment and the closest location is 1.77 miles away from me.
    cshell090869 at aol dot com

  3. commented
    -https://nestfullofnew.com/8-tips-for-holiday-cookies/#comment-16215
    cshell090869 at aol dot com

  4. email subscribe and follow on facebook. I visited and learned the water used in WaterSavers car washes is cleaned through filtration or treatment systems prior to returning to the environment, or it is used again.

  5. I love that the water is refilltered prior to be putting back into the environment. I also like that it saves on water. Thank you so much for sharing

  6. I am an email subscriber at jewel_wood2000(at)yahoo(dot)com. And I follow you on Facebook-Name Julie Wood I learned that WaterSaver’s car washes use an average of no more than 40 gallons (151.5 liters) of fresh water per car. All of that water is either recycled or returned to the environment cleanly, when at home the water usage is 60 gallons and goes into ground water and is not saved.

  7. I like you on Facebook as Elena Istomina. I subscribe to your emails.
    I learned that they use an average of no more than 40 gallons (151.5 liters) of fresh water per car. That’s less than most washing machines.

  12. Following on FB as Lisa Brown
    Email via: jslbrown2009 at aol dot com
    I learned: WaterSavers car washes use water that is either recycled or returned to the environment cleanly.

  15. I learned the nearest one is over an hour and 1/2 away. Good idea if it was everywhere, our gas station here had the EPA here because of the gas running off into the sewer drain from a small spill.

  16. Thanks so much for this giveaway! I’m following you on FB and am subscribed to your emails as vandango33 at gmail dot com
    I learned that WaterSavers car washes only use 40 gallons or less of fresh water per car wash!

  20. II have not given much thought to what happens with the water I use when washing my car, but now I know I need to use somethign that is safe for the environment and animlas.

  21. I learned that WaterSavers car washes use an average of no more than 40 gallons of fresh water per car. All of that water is either recycled or returned to the environment cleanly.

  23. I learned; When you wash your car on pavement, the run-off carries the grime and chemicals into the soil and storm drains that empty directly into our rivers.

  28. I learned that water savers car washes “use only 40 gallons (151.5 liters) or less of fresh water per car wash — less than the typical home washing machine.”

    wildorchid985 AT gmail DOT com

  29. I left a comment on this post-https://nestfullofnew.com/8-tips-for-holiday-cookies/

  31. like on facebook: (michelle barrett) email subscriber. I learned that we use an average of no more than 40 gallons of fresh water per car wash

    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

  35. i learned When you wash your car on pavement, the run-off carries the grime and chemicals into the soil and storm drains that empty directly into our rivers

  38. I learned WaterSavers® car washes prevent water pollution by routing wash water to treatment prior to its return to the environment. These car washes also use only 40 gallons (151.5 liters) or less of fresh water per car wash – less than the typical home washing machine.

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