Top 5 Winter Car Care Tips and Essentials
Hazardous winter road conditions and the constantly changing midwest winter weather can be nerve-wracking to commute in. Keeping your car prepared for whatever comes your way this winter, will help keep you safe. Here at Cable Dahmer Buick GMC of Kansas City, we thought of 5 car care tips and essentials to keep in your that will help you be prepared to adequately handle the winter roads!
Phone Charger
If you don’t already have a phone charger in your car, get one! This could be a literal lifesaver if you get in an accident, stuck in a ditch, or in any other situation where you need to call for help. Cold weather can rapidly drain your phone’s battery causing it to power off quicker than normal. To help avoid this, make it a habit to plug your phone into the charger whenever you get in your car to ensure you will be able to use it in an emergency.
Water and Non-Perishable Snacks
If you get stuck waiting for a tow truck or can’t leave work for lunch due to inclement weather, having some extra snacks and water in your vehicle could be useful. Granola bars, trail mix, or a box of crackers are all affordable options to keep in your car. Keeping water in your vehicle will help keep you from getting dehydrated if you’re in a situation where you’re waiting for help. Keeping a case of bottled water in the back of your vehicle will also help add more weight to your vehicle to prevent sliding.
Tylenol or Ibuprofen
Keeping a small bottle or even a trial size package of Tylenol or Ibuprofen in your car could help you or someone else in a winter accident. If you get a stress headache while driving in inclement weather this could help relieve that headache to help you focus on driving safely. In a winter accident or in a minor fender bender, in the case where you don’t need medical attention, taking a pain reliever like Tylenol or Ibuprofen, can help relieve sore muscles after being in a tense situation. You never know when you might need Tylenol or Ibuprofen so it doesn’t hurt to keep a small amount with you!
Sand or Kitty Litter.
This one might seem odd, but hear us out. We suggest you keep one of these items in the back of your vehicle for a couple of different reasons. One of the reasons is, sand and kitty litter are coarse materials, if you were to get stuck you can easily spread the material on the ground by your tires, so your tires have something to help them grip onto to help get you unstuck. The other reason we suggest keeping these materials handy in your vehicle is to help weigh down the back of your vehicle to reduce fishtailing and sliding. Specifically in the back of compact or sedan cars, and trucks with a light bed.
Jumper Cables.
Being in a situation where you need jumper cables is never a fun one. However, keeping a set in your vehicle will help eliminate at least one step to get your car going again. A dead battery is a common car issue so, you can easily find jumper cables at most stores that have an automotive department. Our service techs at Cable Dahmer Buick GMC of Kansas City suggest having your battery tested whenever you come in for routine maintenance. Knowing the current condition of your battery will help you be proactive and get your battery replaced if it needs it. If you’ve recently had your vehicle serviced but would like your battery tested, no worries! We will test your battery for free!
We hope you find these 5 winter car care tips and essentials helpful while you navigate the hazardous conditions. If you have more suggestions let us know in the comments!