Well, friends, unless you’ve missed it somehow, this country has been experiencing a deep chill. With temperatures well below freezing, wind factors gusting below zero, and even the southern states undergoing some frigid weather, our thoughts of course turn to keeping our vehicles safe.
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The question is: how do I keep my car okay during these arctic days? Well, we’re here to share a few handy tips on how to keep your car, truck, or SUV from dying of frostbite. Ready? Here goes:
- This one is pretty obvious: park in a covered or enclose area, such as a garage, if at all possible. The less exposure your ride has to the elements, the better.
- If you don’t have access to a garage or car port, you’ll want to at least keep parts of your vehicle covered. The windshield and side mirrors are a good place to start, and relatively easy to protect with textiles you can find around your house. The windshield can benefit from a blanket, a big towel, or even some cardboard, while the side mirrors can be protected by some big wool socks or even plastic back.
- Before the frost, lift your wiper blades off the windshield to prevent them from freezing to the glass.
- To keep your doors from freezing shut, give the door seals a good coat of silicone spray or even WD-40 to help the rubber stay agile in the cold.
- Make your very own de-icing spray. Here’s how to do it: mix 1 part fresh water with 3 parts white vinegar in a spray bottle. You can use this as a preemptive measure to prevent frost or to help melt any frost or ice that has already formed. It’s a good idea though, to aim carefully just for the glass windshield and try to steer clear of the paint, as over time, the vinegar can erode paint.
- If you don’t have access to a shelter or coverings for your car, the next best strategy is to try and park your vehicle facing east. This way, you’ve got a chance of some morning sun coming along and helping melt ice and frost away.
- If possible, start your car’s engine every few hours, and even take it for a little spin to help keep the parts from frosting over.
- Keep your gas tank full – this helps prevent the lines from freezing. And consider adding anti-freeze to line to further avoid frosting.
- Get a battery blanket. Yep, that’s exactly what it sounds like – an electric blanket that protects your car’s power from freezing or just functioning poorly in the frigid moments. This gadget also helps extend battery life, so it could be a good investment for our friends who live in frost and ice-prone climates.
- Consider buying – and using – an engine block heater: this contraption helps reduce engine wear, make for easier starting, and allows for the cabin to heat up faster.
And there you have them, folks. Ten handy recommendations (and safety tips here) for preventing and solving ice and frost on your car, truck or SUV. We hope this list has been helpful. And speaking of which, for all your title and tag needs, head over to eTags.com and let us assist you with transfers, replacements, renewals, and more. Because as always, at eTags, we’re here to help!
