Many frugal-minded consumers prep their homes for the colder months, but should you winterize your car? It's a little-known fact, but as the temperature drops so does the amount of gas in vehicles.Yep, Jack Frost is the ultimate gas guzzler.
Fuel may be lost in your car faster than it should be, especially during the winter months. Luckily, there are easy ways to prep your vehicle to save fuel during winter driving.
Here's the lowdown:
Keep an eye on your tires
Watch the tires. Are they properly inflated? Add air if necessary, because you will get up to 10% better fuel economy with properly inflated tires according to AAA. Properly inflated tires reduce accidents by improving your car's traction on slippery roads.
Buy snow tires
Maybe it would be wise to buy snow tires this year. If you have the extra cash, it's probably better to spend it on snow tires instead of something unnecessary. Especially due to your safety. Snow tires have a deep tread and great rolling resistance in order to drive safely through bad winter weather. Snow tires will last for several seasons, and are a sure way to reduce your fuel costs.
Don't idle your car to warm it up
Idling your car to warm it up is a really bad idea, because it doesn't actually warm up your car. It does, instead, it keep the fuel economy at zero mpg. Instead, start your car up and drive it away immediately. This will keep your car operating at optimum efficiency, because this will generate the heat your car needs right away. Don't forget your hat and gloves!
Check the coolant
Watching the coolant levels in your car is very important, equally important as oil. Coolant gets dirty and needs changing regularly. Having the schedule handy in your glove box will help you know when it's ready for a change. It's important that the correct coolant ratio is being used for the vehicle... a 50-50 coolant to water is best to keep the car at its best efficiency.
Have a mechanic do a once over
It's probably best to take your car to get a check-up during the winter months, just to see if anything is on the fritz. Have the mechanic check all of the belts and hoses, along with looking for leaks. A small check-up bill is worth the time being stranded indefinitely in the freezing cold.
