Winter Car Care

Exterior: Most people don't wash their car during the winter because it's cold outside. However, this is the worst time to ignore your car. When it snows, snowplows spread and and salt on the roads to help keep ice from forming. The salt is corrosive; and over the years, will start to rust your car.

During the winter, you should take your car to a car wash once per month. If you use a hand car wash, be sure to wash underneath the car, as you will be defeating the purpose if you don't. If you keep the salt off your car, it will last a lot longer.

Engine: As always, you should check your engine's fluids. Antifreeze keeps the water from freezing in the block. If you don't use antifreeze, it is possible that the water could freeze inside the engine. Though it is not common, it could blow out the freeze plugs. It could also crack the block, depending on how cold it gets, and for how long. Make it a habit to check the antifreeze every month. If it's been over three years since you've had your radiator flushed and the fluid changed, take your car in for service.

Interior: During the winter, you have a very good chance of tracking mud and snow into the car. To help keep the carpets clean and unstained, purchase soaker car mats to put over your regular carpet and nice mats. If you use rubber mats, you can easily take them out and rinse them off when they get too dirty.