Is Your Car Ready for Ski Season? [Infographic]

What Should You Do for Your Car?

Cold temperatures and adverse conditions are tough on cars. There are certain parts you should pay special attention to with winter approaching.

Make Sure Your Brakes Won’t Give Out

The last thing you want when driving in the mountains is bad brakes. Worn brakes will make it more difficult to slow or stop when necessary and this is especially true on steep, winding mountain roads. Every little bit counts in bad weather, especially in the mountains. 

You can easily check your brakes at home just by looking behind your tires’ rims. You will see the outer brake pad and should be able to judge how worn it is. Generally, if they’re about 4-6mm or thicker, you are fine for a while. However, if your brake pads are 3mm or less, you should take your car to a mechanic for brake repair service .

While you’re down there, pull out a penny and check your tire treads, too. If you place the penny in a tread with Lincoln’s head facing inward, you shoauld not be able to see his entire head. If you do, you should get new tires, too. 

Check Your Battery Life

The easiest way to check how much longer your battery will last is to find a mechanic to test it for you. Winter is a tough time of year for batteries. The older your battery is, the more likely it is to freeze when temperatures drop – and that means you could get stranded.

Getting your battery checked is one of the simplest parts of car maintenance and should be quick and easy for any mechanic. You may also be able to get it checked at an auto parts shop. AAMCO Utah mechanics include this service as part of their fall maintenance package .

Get Your Oil Changed

An oil change should be on your schedule twice a year anyway. If you drive your car a lot over long distances, you may need your oil changed even more often. But with winter on its way, it’s a good idea to make sure you have fresh oil and a new oil filter. 

Oil that is too thin will not provide enough protection for your engine and oil that is too thick will cause extra strain. Even if you have the right oil in your engine, as temperatures drop, the oil in your car becomes thicker. This means old oil or improper oil could keep your engine from starting just from being too thick. 

Plus, your oil filter helps control the flow of oil through your engine. If it’s old and dirty, that’s going to cause even more problems with how your car will run in cold temperatures.

Be Smart About How You Drive

Mountain driving is a different beast. In general, especially in bad weather, keep it slow and avoid sudden movements when driving in the mountains. You never know when you’ll lose traction and if you’re jerky around turns or try to brake hard, that will only encourage sliding out. Likewise, if you start to spin out, steer into the skid. 

On snowy or icy mountain roads, don’t stop on an incline because it can be impossible to get going again. And if you drive a manual car, utilize lower gears both for additional power going uphill and to avoid over-using your brakes. 

You may also have chain laws to abide. If this is the case, you will have to keep chains ready to put on your tires when weather gets nasty.

What if You Get Stuck Anyway?

It’s always a good idea having an emergency kit in your car when heading into the mountains. This includes items that will help both you and your car if you get stranded. 

Most people will have an ice scraper and brush in their car to clear off windows – but it’s also a good idea to have a more thorough emergency kit on hand, including:

• Blankets
• Non-perishable food and water
• First aid kit
• A knife
• Flashlight
• Extra batteries and cell phone charger

Keeping as many of those on hand when you head into the mountains can make a world of difference if things don’t go to plan. You’re better off being overprepared rather than underprepared when it comes to winter weather in the mountains.