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Winters can be brutal in MN, which is why we have our guide on how to prep a car for winter. You’ll have daily commutes and weekly errands to tend to, even as the flakes fly and dump another foot-tall snowstorm on Minneapolis.
The winter holidays are festive, with lots of fun gatherings with family and friends, and you might spend time driving to Grandma’s house. By the time February comes around, there are Super Bowl parties to attend and a Valentine’s Day date with your sweetie. So you have lots of reasons to celebrate in the winter months.
Find out how to prep a car for winter with the team from Jaguar Richfield Certified Pre-Owned & Service near St. Paul.
Before you head out on the road for a trip in chilly weather, no matter how long it is, leave enough time to get there when the weather is frigid. There might not be snow or ice on the roads, but chilly weather can still make it harder to get to your St. Paul destination.
Before the weather changes cold in November, test your vehicle’s battery to see how strong it is. Cold weather makes it harder for your car to start. Look over the battery cables and terminals for cracks to see if you need a battery replacement. Your battery test can tell you if there are enough cranking amps to start the vehicle. Our service team is happy to help with this!
Tires usually deflate in cold weather because the air naturally condenses. Perform regular tire pressure checks to make sure they operate properly. Improper inflation decreases your gas mileage. On Richfield roads, incorrect tire pressure can make handling on slick roads worse.
Winter tires are a must for MN once November rolls around. Winter tires improve traction, shorten your stopping distance, and provide you with increased control in less-than-ideal conditions. We highly recommend winter tires for your vehicle, even with AWD.
Wet roads and ice can cause moisture to accumulate on your brakes and brake pads. Look for rust build-up every once a month because rust can reduce your brake performance. Road salt doesn’t help and can make the rust propagate faster. Have the pros at Jaguar Richfield Certified Pre-Owned & Service check the brakes before it gets cold to see if they are still in top shape. Our maintenance team can also check the brakes in March.
Examine your coolant reservoir to see if there is enough coolant for your radiator. The owner’s manual shows you the right coolant type for your vehicle. You can easily find the correct coolant at our parts center if you need to add some to the reservoir. Engine coolant also acts as antifreeze to prevent your engine from getting too cold, so it’s vital to help make your engine work properly in frigid weather.
Motor oil naturally thickens in cold weather. Consider scheduling an oil change ahead of winter for best results. You can also install oil that’s geared for lower temperatures, too. If you normally install 5W-30 oil in your engine, consider 0W-30 oil instead.
Use freeze-resistant wiper fluid and heavy-duty wiper blades for the more harsh months. You should change your wiper blades every six months anyhow. Heavy-duty wiper blades can help take care of snow or ice.
An empty fuel tank leads to moisture build-up which dilutes fuel. Moisture puts more strain on your vehicle’s fuel pump and other parts. A full tank comes in handy if you become stranded or encounter a traffic jam with snow-covered roads, and the traffic isn’t moving much. Make sure your EV’s battery is fully charged because running the heat drains it faster. If you’re caught in heavy traffic, you might not get to a charging station on time if the battery is low.
You don’t want your heater to break down in our MN winters. Make sure your heating system is functioning properly at the start of the winter season. Run it on full blast for at least five minutes before the weather turns frigid. You’ll need that heater to work well for four to six months.
If your vehicle needs maintenance ahead of winter, contact us, call (952) 209-3000, or schedule a service appointment with our team. You could also save some money with our service specials on various maintenance tasks. We’re happy to help in any way we can!
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