In Michigan’s Cold Weather, the Best Ways to Keep Your Car Running

In the next months, temperatures in Michigan will begin to drop. Such bitterly cold weather can cause gas lines to freeze, batteries to drain, and other vehicle problems. Many people may not know how to handle the frigid weather if they are new to the area and are not used to such conditions in this part of the country. If you live in the area, here are some suggestions for keeping your car in good operating order over the winter months.

• To avoid frozen gas lines, keep your gas tank at least half filled.
• Examine your battery. Older car batteries can be drained by extreme cold. You’ll need a jump to get back on the road if your battery is dead.
• Make sure you have enough antifreeze on hand. A break in your engine block can be caused by too much water or not enough antifreeze.
• If at all possible, avoid using the parking brake. It has the potential to become stuck in the on position, leaving you trapped.
• If your doors or locks have frozen shut, use a de-icer or heat to thaw them out. De-icer is combustible, therefore don’t mix the two. DO NOT use hot water because it can immediately refreeze in such extreme weather, exacerbating the problem. If you have a manual lock, try passing your key through the flame of a lighter a few times to warm it up.
• Allow the car to run to melt the ice from your windshield, or use a scraper. Pouring boiling water over your windshield is not a good idea. You run the risk of smashing the glass, and the water will immediately refreeze, exacerbating the problem.
• Warm up your car for at least five minutes to get the oil circulating around in the engine. To avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, open the garage and clear the tailpipe of snow or mud before heating up a vehicle.
• In case of an emergency, keep a winter survival pack in your car. Keep a fully charged mobile phone or even a spare car charger on you at all times, as well as abrasive materials like sand or kitty litter or traction mats in case you get trapped in the snow.