How To Get Your Honda Ready For Winter?
It’s no surprise that Canada has some of the harshest winters in North America, and Prince Edward Island, in particular, is one of the coldest provinces. With Christmas just around the corner, we’re already well into the winter, but if you’re wondering how to keep your brand-new Honda Civic or your old Honda CR-V ready for the Canadian winter, check out these helpful tips from Capital Honda in Charlottetown, PE. Contact us to schedule a service today!
Winterize or winter-proof your Honda
The first step to getting your Honda ready to take on the Canadian winter is to winterize or winter-proof your Honda. In other words, preparing your Honda for the winter by getting seasonal parts, especially tires, and getting it cleaned and serviced before winter hits so that it performs optimally through the unpredictable weather. The sooner you winterize your Honda, the better.
Get Winter Tires
The first thing you need to do to prepare your Honda for the winter is get a good set of winter tires. Using Honda-certified winter tires helps improve traction on those slippery snow-filled roads. Winter tires are purpose-built to provide your Honda with twice the traction as standard all-season tires. They also help the car brake more efficiently in snow and maximize your driving safety.
Also Read: Does fuel efficiency decrease in winter?
Clean the interior of your Honda
Next, give your Honda’s interior a thorough clean-up by vacuuming the seats and upholstery and giving your dashboard and accessories a clean sweep. While you are there, make sure to clean your trunk or cargo area to have enough space for all your winter gear.
We recommend replacing your floor mats with all-weather mats which trap water, road salt, snow, mud, and everything else that gets into your car during winter. Plus, they do not crack under freezing temperatures.
Read More: How to clean the interior of your vehicle without damaging the surfaces
Check your oils and fluids
Winters can be taxing on your Honda’s engine, so it’s always a good idea to check the condition of your engine oil and other fluids like transmission fluid, and antifreeze well before winter hits hard. If you find that the colour has turned a dirty brown or black, it’s time to book an oil change. While you are here, keep an eye out for any cracks or leakages in the hoses and pipes and check if the radiator contains a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water. If it doesn’t, it’s time to replace the fluid immediately.
Check your Honda owner’s manual to see what type of oil your Honda needs for low temperatures or head over to Capital Honda, and our expert team of mechanics will suggest just the right lube for your car.
Get your battery serviced
Cold starts are always a problem during winter, and therefore it is wise to get your car’s electricals, primarily your car’s battery, serviced before winter. Winter weather can weaken batteries and cause them to malfunction. So, if you don’t want to get stuck with an unresponsive ignition when you’re going to work or taking your family out for a road trip in the middle of freezing weather, make sure you make battery serving a priority.
Keep your windshield clean
The windshield is your window to the road ahead. So it’s essential to have a good windshield for a clearer view of the road in hazy conditions. Clean your windshield of any snow or ice, and if you have bad or streaky windshield wipers, consider replacing them as snow and ice could worsen visibility. Fill up the windshield washer fluid so that you can keep your windshields clean regularly.
Read More: How do I replace the windshield wipers on my vehicle?
Give Your Honda a Tune-Up at Capital Honda in Charlottetown, PE
Once you’ve done all this, take your Honda to your nearest Honda service station, get the easy fixes done and tune it up. If you’re wondering where you can get your Honda tuned-up and ready for the winter in Prince Edward Island, then look no further than Capital Honda in Charlottetown!
Our expert mechanics will check your brakes, spark plugs, and tires as well as belts and hoses and keep an eye and ear out for squeaky sounds and faulty electricals and get your Honda winter-proof and running great throughout the cold weather. Contact us today to schedule a service or visit Capital Honda at 40 Lower Malpeque Road.
