Prepare Your Vehicle for the Winter

Wet Roads Are Not the Only Winter Risk

Winter car prepping involves more than just slapping on new tires for traction. It’s a suite of changes that have big ramifications for your car or minivan’s performance when it matters the most. All of them provide you the ability to operate functionally, particularly in inclement weather. Here are the major preparations any Volkswagen can use, and the driver will appreciate:

• Tires - If your tires have seen some life and are worn down, new tires will definitely boost your safety, traction, and control. And if you opt for winter tires, then the benefits multiply when it comes to tire performance.
• Proper Tire Pressure - Tires tend to lose their pressure and air when the temperature goes cold. Checking the tire pressure and inflating up to spec a bit more will not only remove your irritating tire pressure sensor warning from going off every morning, but your tires will also function better on the road.
• Change Out the Engine Oil and Antifreeze - Getting both new engine oil and antifreeze for your car before the cold hits will help ensure your car runs properly even in the deep cold in the middle of winter. Old oil and low-quality antifreeze won’t do you much good when the temperature gets down to 0.
• Check the Heater System - The cold outside can get inside your car without a proper heating system, making driving downright miserable. With a working heater system already checked, you won’t likely have that experience in the middle of January on a remote road.
• Test and Replace Your Battery if Needed - Test and replace your battery if needed – When a car starts cold, the battery is essential for the engine to turn over. A poor battery will easily get sapped in the winter, leaving a driver stuck at the worst possible moment. Running a new battery avoids this risk right from the start. And your car starts reliably even when below 0 outside.