Getting Your Car Ready for Winter: What Actually Matters

Winter in the Chicago area isn't subtle. Between the cold snaps that drain batteries overnight and the road salt that eats at everything underneath your car, a little prep before the season hits goes a long way. Here's what to check before the temperature really drops.

Fluids

Start here. Two fluids matter most in winter:

Antifreeze/coolant — this is what keeps your engine from freezing and your heater from blowing warm air. Check that the level is correct and that the mixture is rated for the temperatures you'll see. If it's been a few years since a flush, have it tested — a refractometer check at any shop takes about two minutes.

Windshield washer fluid — swap in a winter-rated formula good to at least -20°F. The cheap stuff will freeze on contact with a cold windshield, which is not what you want to be doing 65 on 94 in January.

Also, check your oil level. Cold weather thickens oil slightly, so being low going into winter is worse than being low in July.

Tires

Tread and pressure — both matter, and both drop in cold weather.

Check tread with the penny test: insert a penny with Lincoln's head pointing into the groove. If you can see the top of his head, you're at the legal minimum and it's time for new tires. For winter driving, you really want more than the minimum.

Tire pressure drops roughly 1 PSI for every 10-degree temperature drop. Check monthly and go by the sticker inside your driver's door, not the number on the tire sidewall.

If you're running all-seasons, they'll get you through most Chicago winters. But if you're on roads that don't get plowed fast or you've had traction issues in the past, a dedicated set of winter tires is a meaningful upgrade — they stay pliable in the cold in a way all-seasons don't.

Don't forget the spare. Check its pressure too.

Battery

Cold is the enemy of aging batteries. A battery that's been marginal all summer will often fail on the first really cold morning of the season — typically when you're running late.

If your battery is 3 or more years old and hasn't been tested recently, get a load test done before winter. Most shops can do this in a few minutes for free or cheap. Signs it's already struggling: slow cranking on startup, dim lights, or corrosion building up on the terminals.

Clean terminal corrosion with a baking soda and water mixture and a wire brush. After cleaning, a little corrosion-prevention spray on the terminals keeps them cleaner longer.

Visibility

Check your wiper blades now — streaking or skipping in the rain means they'll be useless in wet snow. Winter-specific blades have a wrapped frame that prevents ice buildup and are worth the upgrade.

Test both your front defroster and rear defroster. If either is slow or not working, get it looked at before you need it.

Make sure your cabin air filter is clean too. A clogged filter reduces how well your heater circulates warm air through the cabin.

Emergency Kit

Keep these in your trunk before winter starts:

• Ice scraper and small snow shovel
• Jumper cables or a portable jump starter
• Warm blanket and extra layers
• Sand or kitty litter for traction if you get stuck
• Flashlight, first aid kit, water, snacks
• Gas line antifreeze (useful if your car sits outside in extreme cold)

A Note on Timing

The best time to do all of this is before you actually need it — ideally in October, before the first hard freeze. Once something fails in January, you're dealing with it in the cold, possibly on the road.

At ProAuto on Dempster in Morton Grove, a winter prep inspection covers most of this in one visit. No upselling — just an honest look at what your car needs. Give us a call or stop in anytime.