Winter weather is coming. Snow, ice, cold, remember? The hassles of winter definitely rival its beauty. In particular, winter driving can be a challenge. There are things you can do to ensure your car operates successfully and safely throughout the winter. We’ve put together a short list for you (or for you to share with your loved ones). The checklist below is a great starting place with some important steps to being prepared and safe this winter.

  • A Winter Supply Box
  • Check your Antifreeze
  • Check your Tires
  • Check your Four-wheel Drive
  • Check your Windshield, Wipers, and Fluid
  • Check your Oil
  • Check your Battery
  • Check your Belts and Hoses

Unless you are a mechanic, you may need a little help. A brief rundown of each item should help you to understand if you need professional help to be ready for winter. Put together a “winter supply” box: The right supplies in your trunk can save your butt if something goes wrong on a cold winter day. Here is what you need:

  • Flashlight
  • Road Flares
  • Extra Ice Scraper
  • Extra Gloves
  • Water
  • Jumper Cables
  • A Blanket or Two

It would be smart to have a first aid kit, and change of warm clothes, some high-energy snacks like trail mix or jerky, and a bag of sand or kitty litter in your trunk for traction. Also, make it a point to hit the road with a fully charged cell phone in snowy weather.

Check Your Antifreeze: Antifreeze is extremely vital when the temperature drops. Straight water will actually destroy the engine upon freezing. To check the composition, you can pick up an anti-freeze tester kit for around $5 at any auto parts store. Your car’s manual will have instructions for checking and adding antifreeze if you need to.

Check Your Tire Pressure and Tread Depth: Creating the best contact between the road and your tires is essential for safe traction. First, check your tire pressure with a simple gauge sold at any auto supply store. Follow your manual’s recommendations for pressure level, and if your tires need air, fill them up at the gas station. Also, make sure your tires have a good amount of tread. If you are not sure, use the “Lincoln test” – insert a penny into your tire’s tread with the top of Lincoln’s head pointing inward toward the tire. If you can see all of Lincoln’s head, you may want to consider snow tires. Snow tires will not magically prevent you from slipping and sliding but they will improve traction.

Check Your Four-Wheel Drive: Four-wheel drive can also improve traction on icy roads. Don’t make it a surprise if yours is working correctly or not. Have your 4WD checked by a mechanic.

Your Windshield, Wipers, and Fluid: A windshield crack, minor or major, is a serious concern. It is especially important to get your auto glass repaired or replaced before the cold winter begins, so damage does not escalate. Did you know, your windshield provides up to 30 percent of a vehicle’s structural support? Windshields play an important role in rollover accidents, which are more often fatal if the roof collapses.

Changes in temperature cause the glass to expand and contract. If it is desperately cold outside, there is additional stress on any damage, such as a chip or crack, and a windshield crack is likely to spread. According to a Motor Industry Research Association study, once temperatures outside reach 32 degrees Fahrenheit, a windshield crack is 60 percent more likely to spread. Once temperatures reach 14 degrees Fahrenheit, the damage is 80 percent more likely to spread.

Using your defroster increases the chance of a windshield crack worsening. Creating a drastic difference in temperature on the inside and outside puts more stress on the glass and will lead to increased damage.

Waiting to repair or replace your windshield compromises your safety and the safety of others. It also makes you a target for a ticket. Schedule repairs as soon as possible, and you may be able to limit the project to just repairs. If you wait too long, you will need to replace the windshield, and that is more expensive.

Wipers Blades: Should be replaced every year. If yours look worn or frayed or skip across the windshield they should definitely be replaced. Consider getting winter blades. They are more rugged, wider, and designed for snow and ice.

Windshield Fluid: The formula you use in the spring, and summer can become a hazard in the winter freezing on contact with your windshield. Switch out your fluid for “winter” fluid. It is designed for the rigors of winter weather and will not freeze on your windshield.

In fact, for the best possible experience clearing ice and snow from your windshield, try Aqua-pel. Aqua-pel forms a chemical bond with your car’s windshield to increase water repellency. There are other sprays but Aqua-pel lasts considerably longer and remains highly effective after months of use in the rain, snow, and car washes. It is inexpensive, at Ray Sands Glass, only takes a few minutes to apply, and saves you tons of time scraping off snow and ice. Pick some up at Ray Sands Glass and we will even put it on for you! Once you use Aqua-pel, you will not want to drive without it.

Switch to Winter-Grade Oil: The colder the weather, the thinner you want the oil in your engine to be. The first number in the oil specification, with a lower number indicating better viscosity in cold weather, indicates the viscosity of your oil in colder weather. For example, a 5W-30 oil is better in the winter than a 10W-30 oil. Switching to an oil with a lower cold-weather viscosity grade at your next oil change for the winter is a good move.

Check Your Battery: In cold weather, your engine requires more power from the battery in order to start. Do not get stranded in frigid weather with a dead battery. Have a mechanic run a battery load test to see if your battery should be replaced. He can also clean the corrosion and connections. Most auto supply stores will load-test your battery for free.

Check Belts and Hoses: Cold temperatures weaken belts and hoses. Check for signs of wear and tear. Replace them if needed before one breaks while you are driving in a snowstorm and you have to call a tow truck to pick your car up!

Every item on this list is important to prepare for driving in the winter, but if you do nothing else, add that emergency box to your car. Remember, keeping your car running well is vitally important to keeping you and your family safe this winter. Ray Sands Glass can help. Whether you need your windshield replaced or repaired Ray Sands Glass provides prompt, professional repairs for your windshield crack. We will work with your insurance to manage a claim and schedule your appointment and may even be able to send our technician to you.