Winter can be tough on cars and engines, with the cold and the treacherous road conditions, making fall the ideal time to get it in tip-top shape. If you’re not sure how to prepare your car for winter, there are a few key steps to take. Below are the most crucial things to do before winter.

What Can You Do To Protect Your Car & Engine This Fall?

1. Schedule an Inspection 

Schedule your car for a tune-up, inspection, and maintenance. The mechanic should check and change your fluids if needed and make sure your braking system doesn’t need new pads or to be bled. The inspection will check your filters, lights, suspension, steering, and other critical components. They’ll also check your tire tread and wear, rotating or replacing them as needed. 

2. Replace Failing Parts

If your mechanic mentions that anything is worn or about to fail, have it corrected. Belts, hoses,  alternator, spark plugs, battery, and starter are all common culprits. Instead of paying full-price for brand new auto parts, check auto salvage yards for the parts you need. They’ll have viable parts in good condition at affordable prices, and the auto shop will still install them.

3. Create a Winter Safety Kit

You’ll need to prepare for potential breakdowns and accidents, just in case. Before winter, you should update your road safety kit to include emergency blankets, road flares, hand warmers, extra hats and gloves, and non-perishable foods. You should also make sure you’ve got an ice scraper on hand and that your first-aid kit is stocked and in date.

4. Keep It Safe In the Cold

You should also do some research on how to maintain your car when the cold does hit, so you’re prepared. Change out your floor mats for all-weather mats that will protect your interior from moisture and salt. When the roads have been treated with salt or deicing agents, rinse your car off afterward. The deicing treatments are corrosive to the metal of your car, and tires can kick it up onto your underbody. 

If you need auto parts for your vehicle’s engine or body, Quandt Auto Salvage Inc in Carroll, IA, has provided high-quality used parts since 1941. An ethical auto salvage yard, they reuse every part of each vehicle they get, and all parts come with 90-day warranties and can be shipped nationwide. They’re family-owned and -operated, with long-term employees. Browse their inventory online, and call (712) 792-9204 to inquire about a specific part.