--- title: 17 Tips to Keep Your Car Moving This Winter description: We've got over a dozen clever, useful tips and ideas to prepare your car for this year's winter months. image: https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202020-10-26T150955.318.jpg --- [![MoneyWisdom_HFCU_r2](https://go.hfcu.org/hs-fs/hubfs/MoneyWisdom_HFCU_r2.png?width=464&name=MoneyWisdom_HFCU_r2.png "MoneyWisdom_HFCU_r2")](https://go.hfcu.org/blog) Filter by Category** - [Show All](https://go.hfcu.org/blog) - [Security](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/security) - [Personal Finance](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/personal-finance) - [Auto](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/auto) - [Business](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/business) - [Credit Score](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/credit-score) - [Home](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/home) - [Credit Cards](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/credit-cards) - [Life Changes](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/life-changes) - [Insurance](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/insurance) - 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[Pets (1)](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/pets) - [dormant account (1)](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/dormant-account) - [inactive account (1)](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/inactive-account) # 17 Tips to Keep Your Car Moving This Winter ** [Hanscom Federal Credit Union](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/author/hanscom-federal-credit-union) ** Oct 29, 2020 ![young woman driving car in winter](https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202020-10-26T150955.318.jpg) Winter is coming.  Yes, the cold, snow, blowing, howling winter is inevitable. You need to be able to rely on your car so you are not left out in the cold. Your car needs to rely on you for its care and feeding, and we are covering some useful tips and some unique ideas to help you prepare. Starting with anything **rubber **is a good idea: - Tires - Make sure there is sufficient tread to get you through the snow. If you see horizontal marks through the tread, these “tread wear indicators” indicate it is time to replace the tires. - Inflate tires to the proper pressure. The driver’s door jamb has a sticker showing the correct pressure. Since the colder temperatures cause lower pressure, it’s important to fill your tires to the correct pressure. Plus, your tires will last longer and the car’s ride will be as designed.  - *TIP: Most tire centers will check tires and air pressure for free. Just be aware that they may try to sell you on balancing/rotations/etc.* - Wipers - Snow and grit will inevitably cover your windows and a good wiper is needed to keep the windows clear. Changing the wipers before winter is a good idea, in fact manufacturers suggest changing them every six months. They certainly need replacement if they are cracked or streaking when used. - Wipers often need help of a little spritz of washer fluid. Buy a couple of bottles and carry in the car. When you get fuel, top off the washer fluid if you’ve been using the spray. - *TIP: Most car part stores are willing to lend a hand to help install wipers. * - Doors - Vehicles often have a rubber gasket around the door opening. If water accumulates on the gasket, the door can “freeze” shut, leaving you out in the cold. A light application of cooking spray will help keep water off the rubber. - A brief squirt of WD-40 in the keyhole of the door often keeps water from accumulating in the lock and freezing. - *TIP: Wrap the end of the WD-40 tube in paper towel after you insert in the lock and before spraying. This will stop overspray and drips! * Other winter preparations include: - Keep the fuel tank over half filled – this helps with additional weight for traction and if you were to get stuck lets you run the engine for warmth (make sure the exhaust pipe is clear). - Carry a bag of gritty cat litter or sand – if you are on ice, this can make all the difference to get you moving again. - Make sure you know where your snow brush is located – leaving it in the garage won’t help! - If your windows fog up, try applying shaving cream to the inside of the windows and then wiping off. This works on the bathroom mirror, too! - Keep an emergency kit in the car. A spare jacket, some hand warmers, a flashlight, and energy bars will go a long way if needed. - Let Mother Nature help. When parking overnight, park so the windshield faces east, so the rising sun can help warm the car. You’ve done everything right, but after a night of freezing rain you approach your ice-encased car with trepidation. No worries, you have this one! - Spray a mixture of 3 parts vinegar and 1-part water on glass to help de-ice. - A credit card can be used as an emergency ice scraper - If the locks are frozen, try putting some hand sanitizer on the key. The alcohol will help with the ice. With a few simple preparations, your car will serve you well this winter.   *Now that you’ve helped your car, it's time for your car to help you. Find out about our [refinancing options](https://www.hfcu.org/refinance-my-car.html). Yes, you  absolutely can [refinance a car!](https://www.hfcu.org/refinance-my-car.html)*  [![Learn More About Refinancing Your Car](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/118438/7afd6617-7cc7-4464-b2d6-1a2626e25d09.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/118438/7afd6617-7cc7-4464-b2d6-1a2626e25d09) *Others are reading:* - [Coronavirus Car Care: 7 Tips for Maintaining Your Automobile](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/coronavirus-car-care-tips-for-maintaining-a-car-you-dont-drive) - [Refinance Your Auto Loan and Reduce Your Payment](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/refinance-auto-loan) - [How to Get Lower Car Lease Payments](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/want-a-lower-car-payment-try-better-than-a-lease) - [3 Ways to Avoid Going Underwater on Your Car Loan](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/how-you-can-be-underwater-on-your-auto-loan-and-what-you-can-do-about-it) - [5 Reasons to Choose Your Credit Union for a Car Loan](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/5-reasons-to-choose-your-credit-union-for-a-car-loan) ** [Auto](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/topic/auto) [** How to Get a Credit Card When You're Still in College ](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/how-to-get-a-credit-card-while-youre-still-in-college) [** What Is a Secured Credit Card? ](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/what-is-a-secured-credit-card) ### About Author ![Hanscom Federal Credit Union](https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/HFCU-Profile-1000x1000.jpg) Hanscom Federal Credit Union Hanscom Federal Credit Union, a purpose-driven $1.9 billion organization based in Littleton, MA, empowers its members to achieve financial wellness. Hanscom FCU serves over 95,000 members across the country and overseas through 16 branches, over 100,000 surcharge-free ATMs, 5,000 contact centers, and a web-based branch. Related Posts [![5 Surprising Ways You Overshare Your Personal Information](https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/Protect%20Your%20Privacy%205%20Surprising%20Ways%20You%20Overshare%20Your%20Personal%20Information.png) 5 Surprising Ways You Overshare Your Personal Information ](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/protect-your-privacy-5-surprising-ways-you-overshare-your-personal-information) [![How To Get Lower Car Lease Payments](https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/How%20To%20Get%20Lower%20Car%20Lease%20Payments.png) How To Get Lower Car Lease Payments ](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/how-to-get-a-better-car-lease-option) [![How To Refinance Your Car Loan](https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/older%20couple%20looking%20at%20car%20refinancing%20terms%20on%20tablet.png) How To Refinance Your Car Loan ](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/should-you-refinance-your-car-loan) ** - [**](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://go.hfcu.org/blog/keep-your-car-moving-this-winter/) - [**](https://X.com/share?url=https://go.hfcu.org/blog/keep-your-car-moving-this-winter/) - [**](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://go.hfcu.org/blog/keep-your-car-moving-this-winter/&summary=&source=CeBIT) ## You are Leaving Hanscom Federal Credit Union #### **Please read the following before proceeding to:** The website you are about to visit is solely the responsibility of the merchant or other party providing the site. 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The Credit Union Privacy Policy does not apply to this third-party site, and for further information you should consult the privacy disclosures of the third-party site. ### Comment ### Subscribe To Blog ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### contact **Hanscom Federal Credit Union** 1610 Eglin St. Hanscom AFB, MA 01731 Call us: [800-656-4328](tel:8006564328) [https://www.hfcu.org/](https://www.hfcu.org/) ### About Us [The MoneyWisdom Blog](https://www.hfcu.org/the-moneywisdom-blog.html) ### Social ** ## You are Leaving Hanscom Federal Credit Union #### **Please read the following before proceeding to:** ### https://www.facebook.com/HanscomFederalCreditUnion The website you are about to visit is solely the responsibility of the merchant or other party providing the site. The content of this third-party site, including materials and information, is solely the responsibility of the provider of the site. The Credit Union is not responsible for any such third-party content. Any transactions that you enter into with a vendor, merchant or other party that you access through this third-party site are solely between you and that vendor, merchant or other party. The Credit Union does not endorse the content contained in this third-party site, nor the organization publishing the site, and hereby disclaims any responsibility for such content. The Credit Union Privacy Policy does not apply to this third-party site, and for further information you should consult the privacy disclosures of the third-party site. ## You are Leaving Hanscom Federal Credit Union #### **Please read the following before proceeding to:** ### https://X.com/HanscomFCU The website you are about to visit is solely the responsibility of the merchant or other party providing the site. The content of this third-party site, including materials and information, is solely the responsibility of the provider of the site. The Credit Union is not responsible for any such third-party content. Any transactions that you enter into with a vendor, merchant or other party that you access through this third-party site are solely between you and that vendor, merchant or other party. The Credit Union does not endorse the content contained in this third-party site, nor the organization publishing the site, and hereby disclaims any responsibility for such content. The Credit Union Privacy Policy does not apply to this third-party site, and for further information you should consult the privacy disclosures of the third-party site. ## You are Leaving Hanscom Federal Credit Union #### **Please read the following before proceeding to:** ### https://www.instagram.com/hanscomfcu/ The website you are about to visit is solely the responsibility of the merchant or other party providing the site. The content of this third-party site, including materials and information, is solely the responsibility of the provider of the site. The Credit Union is not responsible for any such third-party content. Any transactions that you enter into with a vendor, merchant or other party that you access through this third-party site are solely between you and that vendor, merchant or other party. The Credit Union does not endorse the content contained in this third-party site, nor the organization publishing the site, and hereby disclaims any responsibility for such content. The Credit Union Privacy Policy does not apply to this third-party site, and for further information you should consult the privacy disclosures of the third-party site. ## You are Leaving Hanscom Federal Credit Union #### **Please read the following before proceeding to:** ### https://www.linkedin.com/company/hanscomfcu/ The website you are about to visit is solely the responsibility of the merchant or other party providing the site. The content of this third-party site, including materials and information, is solely the responsibility of the provider of the site. The Credit Union is not responsible for any such third-party content. Any transactions that you enter into with a vendor, merchant or other party that you access through this third-party site are solely between you and that vendor, merchant or other party. The Credit Union does not endorse the content contained in this third-party site, nor the organization publishing the site, and hereby disclaims any responsibility for such content. 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The Credit Union does not endorse the content contained in this third-party site, nor the organization publishing the site, and hereby disclaims any responsibility for such content. The Credit Union Privacy Policy does not apply to this third-party site, and for further information you should consult the privacy disclosures of the third-party site. ### Popular Posts [What You Need to Know About Putting Your Home in a Trust](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-putting-your-home-in-a-trust) ![older man looking at top retirement worry on digital device](https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202022-02-10T072804.753.jpg) [What You Need to Know About Your Federal Tax Bracket](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-your-tax-bracket) ![older man looking at top retirement worry on digital device](https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20-%202021-03-22T123305.900.jpg) [6 Boat Types to Get on the Water](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/6-boat-types-to-get-on-the-water) ![older man looking at top retirement worry on digital device](https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/images/Jet_Ski.jpg) [23 Organizations Dedicated to the Needs of Seniors](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/23-organizations-dedicated-to-the-needs-of-seniors) ![older man looking at top retirement worry on digital device](https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/Senior%20citizens.jpg) [9 Smart Moves for Lottery Winners](https://go.hfcu.org/blog/lottery) ![older man looking at top retirement worry on digital device](https://go.hfcu.org/hubfs/images/lottery_winner.jpg) ### Recent Posts - [![National Credit Union Administration](https://go.hfcu.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NCUA-logo-small.png?width=95&name=NCUA-logo-small.png) ](https://www.ncua.gov/) [![Equal Housing Lender](https://go.hfcu.org/hs-fs/hubfs/EHL-logo-small.png?width=65&name=EHL-logo-small.png)](https://www.hud.gov/fairhousing) - @ 2023 [Hanscom Federal Credit Union](https://www.hfcu.org/) - Federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration. - [Privacy Policy](https://www.hfcu.org/content/docs/Privacy_Notice.pdf) **Disclosure:** Hanscom Federal Credit Union does not provide and is not responsible for any products, services, or overall website content available at any third-party sites linked within this blog. 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Please consult the privacy disclosures on those linked sites for further information. ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Hanscom Federal Credit Union" }, "dateModified" : "January 19, 2022, 1:40:03 PM", "datePublished" : "2020-10-29 11:00:00", "description" : "We've got over a dozen clever, useful tips and ideas to prepare your car for this year's winter months.", "headline" : "17 Tips to Keep Your Car Moving This Winter", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://f.hubspotusercontent30.net/hubfs/118438/Untitled%20design%20-%202020-10-26T150955.318.jpg" }, "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://go.hfcu.org/blog/keep-your-car-moving-this-winter", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/118438/Logo%202.jpg" }, "name" : "Hanscom Federal Credit Union" } } ```