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Winterizing Your Vehicle: Essential Services to Prepare for Cold Weather

winter maintenance

You don't have to wait for the first snowflake to fall to get your car ready. Taking care of winter maintenance right away can save you from the inevitable headaches that come when the roads get nasty. As your local Honda dealership, we're here to make sure your car is prepared for the cold season ahead.

4 Essential Winter Maintenance Tips From Your Honda Dealership

1. Kit Out Your Vehicle With Winter or All-Weather Tires

Now that grip is going to be a very precious commodity, it's time to ensure your vehicle is equipped with the right tires. And because we're expecting temperatures south of 44 degrees Fahrenheit, the right tires here are winter tires. These tires are made from special materials that stay soft even in low temperatures, enhancing their grip on icy, snowy, or wet surfaces. They also have special treads, known as sipes, that bite into slippery surfaces to improve traction.

While winter tires are the obvious choice for harsh weather, but all-weather tires with decent treads are also rated for winter driving. As long as you're not pushing the vehicle through intense conditions and sticking to city driving, these tires can hold their own.

2. Test Your Battery

Cold weather can be tough on batteries, causing them to lose power faster than usual. If your battery is already on the edge, this winter could be the final straw, leaving you stranded when you least expect it.

To avoid this situation, bring your battery to us for a quick state-of-health check. We'll use special equipment to test it and let you know how much life it has in it.

3. Fill Your Antifreeze

Yes, antifreeze can freeze, and that's the last thing you want to happen when you're out on a cold winter morning. So, top off your antifreeze and ensure it's properly mixed for the lowest temperature you might encounter. Oh, and don't forget to use the right antifreeze for your engine, since it's not a one-size-fits-all solution. If you don't know which one to use, our technicians can help guide you to the perfect match.

4. Change Your Windshield Wiper Fluid

Don't even think about using just plain water in your washer reservoir this winter; it'll just turn into a block of ice. This time, you need something with antifreeze so the hoses and nozzles don't freeze.

Contact Columbia Honda in Columbia, MO, for more winterizing tips and services.

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