How To Protect Your Car During a Snowstorm

Driving through a snowstorm can be a dangerous experience, and it can have lasting effects on your car. If you think you’ll be braving a snowstorm, you’ll want to equip yourself and your car with the essentials to combat this hazardous weather. Find out how you can protect your car in the middle of a snowstorm with these tips.

Keep Your Engine Running

Keeping your engine on can help you stay warm, but you’ll need to do it safely. Before you start, clear your exhaust pipe of snow to prevent toxic gases from building up.

Also, run the engine only for about 10–15 minutes at a time intermittently. This will conserve the fuel while maintaining heat inside the car.

Protect Your Windshield and Wipers

Snow and ice can damage your windshield and wiper blades if left unchecked. To prevent ice buildup, use a windshield cover if you have one or place a thick towel or tarp over the windshield.

If you notice ice already forming, don’t use the wipers to scrape it off. Instead, wait for the defroster to melt the ice or use a scraper carefully. Doing so will mitigate damage to your wiper blade or the motor.

Insulate Your Battery

Extreme cold can weaken your car battery, which might leave you stranded longer than expected. If possible, insulate your car’s battery with a thermal blanket or even a layer of foam. With this, you should also check the connections of your terminals to be sure that your car will remain protected during the snowstorm and be ready to start up again when it clears.

Manage Street Salt Exposure

While street salt melts the snow on the roads for safe driving, it’s also corrosive and can damage your car’s paint and undercarriage over time. If you’re stuck on salted roads during a snowstorm, try to avoid driving through thick salt deposits. Once it’s safe to do so, rinse off your car to prevent salt from lingering and causing long-term damage to the metal.

Position Your Tires Strategically

You’ll want to keep your tires in the best shape possible. If you’re at risk of getting stuck when conditions worsen, turn your wheels slightly to prevent them from freezing in one spot. Additionally, park so that your tires are facing the road; that way, it’s easier to pull back onto the road when the snow clears.

Protecting your car from internal and external damage will help you navigate the roads back home when the storm clears. Head to the nearest truck stop or commercial business and bundle up until the storm starts to die down. Once it’s safe to drive, you’ll be at ease knowing that your car didn’t break down from the weather.

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