Preparing Your Vehicle for Winter with @FordCanada

In my climate, and most across Canada, we experience extreme weather conditions from heat to cold.  We spend a lot of time on the road between Hubs work and me driving the kids to their various appointments and activities; winter does not allow us to slow down.  Ensuring our vehicles are always well maintained and ready for current weather conditions gives me a sense of security that I have done my part to keep my family safe and prepared in our vehicles all year long.  Ford Canada offers some winter prep tips to help you maintain your vehicle throughout the cold winter months:

>> The most important thing you can do is have good tires. If they’re getting close to the wear bars, you should have them replaced. Make sure your tires are at the correct pressure; tires that were at the specified pressure in summer will probably be low with the colder temperatures experienced in winter.
>> Have a mechanic check the condition of your battery and charging system. Engines are harder to start in the winter, while batteries lose power as the temperature drops.
>> Check your cooling system, and make sure that your coolant contains an adequate 50/50 antifreeze/water mixture. You can buy a special tester for a few dollars or have a mechanic check it for you. It’s important that you do this, because freezing coolant can ruin an engine.
>> Replace your wiper blades. Rubber hardened from summer sun will leave annoying streaks that can hamper your view of the road.
>> Similarly, make sure your windshield-washer reservoir is topped-off with a cold-weather washer fluid.
>> Check that your exterior lights function properly.
>> Have scheduled maintenance performed on time. Becoming stranded due to a clogged fuel filter, a broken fan belt, or a bad spark plug wire is more than a hassle in the winter, especially if help is far away.
>> Keep your gas tank above one-quarter full so as to have a reserve of fuel if you become stranded and need to run your engine to stay warm.
>> Check that the door locks on your car are properly lubricated. You can thaw frozen door locks with lock de-icer spray, but remember that keeping it in your trunk won’t help when you’re locked out.

Disclosure: I work with Ford Canada on reviews; I have not been paid for this post. All opinions are 100% those of This Lil Piglet.