Winter Prep 2023-2024

Now that Thanksgiving is over and Christmas season is in full throttle it is easily one of the busiest times of the year. And during this time and depending on where you live, we experience a swift transition from autumn into winter. Because of the holidays, and how fast life moves at this time, many of us will overlook how hard winter can be on our vehicles. In fact, many won’t address any winter maintenance or preparation until the first snow sticks to the roads at 6 a.m., and you’ve got to be at your work desk in a half hour. This is when you will see your local tire stores packed with people clawing for winter tires, and your local auto parts stores are busy with everyone buying windshield wipers and fluid.

But proper winter maintenance goes well beyond just winter tires, washer fluid, and new wipers. Winter can be pretty hard on our vehicles especially the older they are. If you live in an area that experiences frequent snow and salt with low temperatures, this will help you prepare for those harsher winter months from December through February.

 

 

WINTER TIRES VS ALL SEASONS

Just because you drive a Subaru, all-wheel drive does not make you immune to accidents. The phenomenon of people driving faster and crazier when it snows is beyond anyone’s comprehension. But don’t be one of these people. What is the main difference between winter tires and regular all-season tires? It’s the compound. The rubber compound used for winter tires is softer and will not harden during freezing temperatures. This creates better traction in both rain, snow, and ice. And the tread design is different with more cuts in the grooves to get better acceleration in the snow, but more importantly, during braking. Combined with all-wheel-drive winter tires are a much safer option especially for those of you who live on the upper east corners such as New York, Vermont, Connecticut, or in the Rocky Mountains, the Dakotas, Canada, etc. And for those of you who may experience light snow during the winter months, all-season tires will suffice. Winter tires really shine when you wake up to 6 inches or more on the roads, and when it’s time to go home in the evening where the snow is packed into the pavement with an underbelly of ice. Most importantly, winter tires help prevent accidents because there is always a time where you must lock up your brakes in a sudden situation whether it be the fog, or if the person in front of you spins out of control. The grip of winter tires reduces the braking distance as opposed to regular tires that would make you skid into the other vehicle or object in front of you.

 

BUT DON’T DAILY DRIVE ON WINTER TIRES IF YOU DON’T HAVE TO

Or if you just like blowing money on tires, be our guest. Winter tires should only be used seasonally because of the softer compounds. Winter tire compounds get even more softer the warmer it gets, and on those 100-degree summer days, the road will chew away the tread accelerating the wear. Also, softer tires are more vulnerable to punctures. You wouldn’t believe how many nails are actually on the highway until you’ve driven with winter tires in the middle of June. Plus, winter tires are a little heavier than conventional tires so your gas mileage will slightly decrease due to the extra rolling resistance. You can have your local tire shop swap out your winter tires at the beginning of each November or get a second set of wheels to host your winter tires to avoid yearly tire mounting and balance fees.

 

 

WHY DO I HAVE TO KEEP REPLACING WINDSHIELD WIPERS EVERY YEAR?

This is mainly aimed at cheap wipers. During summertime, and this applies for those who experience 90 degree and above temps from June through August, your windshield wipers get cooked. The heat of the rubber resting against glass causes the bacon or lasagna effect on the rubber blade. The problem is that the wave effect on warped windshield wipers leaves gaps where the rubber is lifted so it’s not making proper contact with the glass. This leaves massive streaks in the windshield and could make things worse especially if you’re on a wet salted highway. There is no amount of wiper fluid that could help in this situation. Check the condition of your wipers in November, and for gosh sakes, learn how to install them there are a million available online videos on how to get this done. Make sure your windshield wiper fluid is full. You wouldn’t believe how fast you go through it trying to get all the salt off. Get a gallon of it and keep the rest in the back of your vehicle.

 

THAT DREADED DEAD WINTER BATTERY

Winter is very hard on batteries that are 3-4 years old or nearing the end of their cycle. The majority of car batteries will have these caps that sit on top of the battery. Wearing protective gloves, gently pry these caps off with a flathead screwdriver and you will see these holes, or cells if you will. These are filled with water. Not all the way to the top, but ¾ of the way. If they are empty, fill them with water. They help the overall efficiency of the battery. But again, make sure you are wearing protective eyewear, and gloves because the water inside these cells are mixed with battery chemicals or acid. MORE IMPORTANTLY, make sure your battery terminals are clean of any buildup. If you are the type that just gets in and drive, and has a shop do all of the work, then it is typical to see a white and blueish powdery buildup on your terminals. Remove this with a wire brush. Do not inhale the dust, don’t get it in your eyes, don’t get it on your hands, and make sure the terminals are tight and snug. Most local auto parts store should sell a battery terminal protectant spray that will protect the terminals from corrosion buildup.

 

MAKE SURE YOUR FLUIDS ARE FRESH AND TOPPED OFF

This is imperative, especially for your oil. We will further discuss oil later in this blog. The longer you go without oil changes, the dirtier, and thicker your oil becomes. When you start your vehicle in 32-degree weather on your way to work, that dirty and thicker oil takes longer to warm up, and it takes longer to provide proper lubrication. Make sure you are on top of your scheduled oil change intervals, and that you are not outside of your recommended mileage mark when the next oil change is due. Your coolant needs to be checked and made sure that it is topped off. And power steering – this is another important fluid to top off. If you don’t have access to a garage and notice a loud whining sound when you first start your vehicle in the morning or after a few days, this is because your power steering fluid may be low. Make sure that your power steering reservoir is properly topped off with the recommended fluid type.

 

CHECK THE CONDITION OF YOUR SERPENTINE/ACCESSORY BELTS

The older your belts the harder and dryer the rubber becomes. This is why you must replace your belts at each recommended service intervals ESPECIALLY your timing belt. Why do belts squeal in the morning or in the cold weather? It is because they are slipping at one of the pullies. A loose belt or an old belt will be a loud belt during the colder months. For an experienced mechanic or if you are good behind the wrench, you will know that serpentine or accessory belts are not that hard to replace. Timing belts on the other hand can be very labor intensive but if you’re within your timing belt service mileage you will be okay. If you tighten your accessory belt and it still squeals, check out our selection and we may have something available depending on what model Subaru you drive.

 

KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THOSE ENGINE LEAKS

Why do some vehicles magically start leaking fluid the first real cold morning of early winter? Science is why. Metal contracts when the weather is colder. And if you have an existing oil leak that is slightly seeping, it gets worse in the colder weather. Valve cover gaskets are common, but annoying because oil will drip on the exhaust manifold causing a fire hazard or a burning oil odor. Coolant leaks are also typical for older cars as hoses and O-rings will harden allowing coolant to pass through once the engine is cycling fluid. Does this mean that the leaks will go away when the engine is warm, or when the weather is warmer? No. If fluid starts leaking when the weather gets extremely colder, this is an indication that the seal, gasket, hose, or connection needed to be addressed and were at the end of it’s sealing function.

 

CHECK YOUR TIRE PRESSURE

For those of you with older vehicles or have dead TPMS sensors inside your tires. The tire pressure can increase or decrease during peak summer or winter months. In winter, too much tire pressure will decrease traction in ice and in snow because the tire will be harder due to the increased pressure. This will only make things worse for you if you have really hard generic all-season tires. Lower tire pressure will increase traction a little bit, but only a few psi lower than what your recommended tire pressure is set at. But as a rule of thumb, always keep your tires at the recommended pressure. Too little tire pressure greatly increases tire wear, and you risk having a blowout because you are putting too much stress on the sidewalls.

 

MAKE SURE YOUR HEADLIGHTS ARE FREE OF OXIDATION

One of the most important functioning items you need to have on your vehicle especially during the winter months where the snow and fog impede the vision for everyone on the road, is your lighting. Don’t you just love driving on wet roads and it’s hard to see the road lines? Proper lighting will certainly help. But if you have an older Subaru with faded headlight lenses, you can solve this issue by using a restore kit you can buy at your local auto parts store, or by sanding using a fine grit sandpaper such as 1500 or 2000, then followed by a polish. Clearer headlight lenses will increase the lighting surface coverage when you otherwise think you may have weak bulbs.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO REALLY WORRY ABOUT RUST, YOU CAN ALWAYS ADD MORE UNDERCOAT

For some vehicles, undercoating is an option. What is undercoating? It is almost like bedliner or a rubberized coating underneath your vehicle to prevent rust on the most vulnerable areas mainly on the chassis. You will not have undercoating on your exhaust obviously because it will cool. But on your frame, differentials, floorboards, the areas above your exhaust all can benefit from undercoating. You can purchase undercoating from your local auto parts store, just make sure you cover any exposed bolts in case you need to remove a component or to perform additional maintenance. Again, avoid exhaust components, braking components, suspension components, and the oil pan. Focus on the fender wells, frame, floorboards, and any exposed areas of metal that lack in paint and are prone to rusting.

 

BEORE THE SNOW FLIES

Before getting that first substantial snowstorm, and this should be done in the fall when the weather is still relatively warm, you should add a coat of wax to the paint. We offer several detailing products, but a good hand wash and a wax/polish will help repel salt on your paint and it will allow the dirt to come off more easily when driving through a touchless automatic car wash.

 

THE CONTROVERSIAL “SHOULD I WARM UP MY CAR IN THE MORNING” DEBATE

This is a big point of contention. Due to being environmentally aware, this has been a debate that you should just get in your car in the morning and drive it. Now, how can this be bad for your vehicle. There are a few variables. Going back to why it is important to having fresh oil in your engine during the winter months, dirty oil is thicker, and takes more time to build pressure, and to circulate throughout the engine. When the oil is cold, it also effects the overall viscosity and lubrication properties. What could be most effected in a cold engine? That would be the cylinder walls. If it’s 20 degrees on a December morning and you get in your car, start it up and rev it high thinking that this will warm up the engine faster, or just go and drive it regularly before you get any temp in the engine, then this would certainly increase engine wear because those cylinder walls have cold oil to work with.

Now, if you live in California or Florida where it’s 50 degrees in the morning, then that is another story, and it is safer to just get in your car and drive off. But if you live in areas that experience extremely low morning temperatures, you should warm the vehicle up for a few minutes while you scrape off the snow or frost off your windows, and let some temps build up in the oil.

At the very least because there are many enforced anti-idling laws established throughout many areas in the United States, then you must drive your car as lightly as possible for the first 10 minutes. Meaning stay off the boost. Shift every 2k RPM, and don’t give your vehicle a lot of throttle. It is always a good idea to use fully synthetic oils which you should be using anyways in a modified vehicle, and your oil should be fresh so that it warms up faster and can deliver the proper lubrication needed during the colder months.

 

 

WHAT SHOULD I KEEP IN THE INTERIOR OF MY SUBARU DURING THE WINTER MONTHS?

While prepping your Subaru or daily driver for the winter, there are additional items that you can keep in the interior for both preparation and protection in case of an emergency. Now the linked examples are model-specific, so while on the website, make sure you choose the right model to see if there is an example available for your Subaru.

• WEATHERTECH FRONT AND REAR FLOORLINERS – 2015-2021 SUBARU WRX/STI: Weathertech Floorliners add the ultimate protection to your carpets in your Subaru throughout all seasons of the year. These feature strong rubber leak-free construction that collects anything that your shoes bring from the outside. That means, snow, mud, dirt, salt, chemicals, and all the elements that can really stain your carpets. The best part is that they are also simple to clean. The next time you’re washing your car at the car wash or in the driveway during the spring, you can spray the Floorliners off to wash away the winter dirt.
• WEATHERTECH CARGO LINER – 2008-2014 SUBARU WRX/STI HATCHBACK: Also available to offer the same protection to your trunk when you get your skis or snowboard on the roof but put the rest of your equipment in the trunk, and it also protects against spilled groceries or chemicals all year long.
• RALLY ARMOR UR MUD FLAPS – 2015-2021 SUBARU WRX/STI: Mud flaps are one of the household items installed on the exterior for many Subaru enthusiasts. They provide the exterior with rally-inspired looks and go well on stock, slammed, or lifted Subarus. However, in the wintertime they really serve their purpose by preventing salt and dirt from sandblasting the lower painted corners of your doors, side skirts, and rear bumper, and they protect the drivers behind you from giving them a chipped windshield.
• PIAA SI-TECH 24IN SILICONE WIPER BLADE: The PIAA Si-Tech wiper blades smoothly conform to the curves and contours of your windshield to provide optimal area surface contact. This is needed when the roads are wet, and you have a salty windshield that you need to keep clear. A little more of an investment when compared to conventional off-the-shelf wipers, but the proof is in the performance brought to you by a well-established brand.
• DURACELL 900 PEAK AMP PORTABLE EMERGENCY JUMPSTARTER W/COMPRESSOR: Because winter is tough for your battery and tires. This is perfect for those of you who may have had to leave your vehicle outside for a few days at the airport or if you got sick and had to work from home for half of the week. Or if you went to a movie and left your lights on. A portable charger is a lifesaver many times over. Plus, you get the compressor to make sure your tires have a proper amount of air if you don’t have a fancy compressor, or if you don’t want to go to the local gas station to fill your tires up.

 

In conclusion, winter prepping your vehicle seems daunting, however, for those of you who like to perform your own wrenching, we know that in the middle of winter is the worst time to work on a car whether if you have a garage or not. The majority of the winter prep tasks such as changing oil, wiper blades, wiper fluid, maintaining the battery, while checking tire pressure can easily be done on a weekend afternoon. The goal is to have safe and smooth winter travels with no hurdles in between. Catch us in the springtime when we prepare our Subarus for the upcoming warmer months.