How to prepare your vehicle for the ice, snow and freezing temperatures?

​​3. Block heater. First find out if you have one. While most Detroit Three carmakers still include them as standard equipment, many models no longer come with them. This is true regardless of the logo on the hood. Your manufacturer’s dealership should be able to let you know if you have one if you call them with the vehicle serial number.
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If you have one, and you usually park your vehicle outdoors, get an outdoor electrical outlet timer.
This is especially important if overnight temperatures drop to -20 ºC or colder. Start using it. For most winter nights, you only need a few hours of plug-in time. This helps ensure quick morning start-ups. It also provides near-instant heat from the HVAC system. Fuel economy improves because the engine runs cold for less time.

​4. Fluids. While more people use red or orange long-life engine coolant, you should still check it every fall. You should also check the older green coolant every fall for strength and condition. As few do-it-yourselfers have a coolant strength tester, its best left up to a service provider. Remember engine coolant can be under pressure when warm and can be poisonous to small animals. Washer fluid is an easy DIY check and a spare bottle should be in your trunk all year long and especially in the winter. Engine oil takes a beating in winter due to fuel from cold starts. It also gets water contamination from condensation in the engine block. Start off the season right with a fresh oil and filter change. Don’t forget to check brake, transmission and power steering fluid levels.

​5. Vision/Wipers. Windshield wipers, no matter how fancy or expensive, are consumable and should be replaced every 18 to 24 months. Sheathed winter wiper blades will still freeze under extreme conditions. One of the best is Michelin’s Stealth wiper blade, available through retailers such as Costco. It combines all the best elements of various wiper designs: beam style with an aero-wing and a winter sheath. Take the time to spray a light lubricate at the base of the wiper arm where its pivot is located.

6. Locks, latches, doors. Before the deep freeze hits, take the time to lubricate door locks, latches, and hinges and treat the door and window seals. Silicone lubricating compound (available in aerosol cans in most auto parts stores) works well for mechanical and rubber components. By spraying the door and window weather seals, they will be less likely to freeze you out on a cold winter morning. Opt for the brand with a spray straw. It helps you spray into lock cylinders. It also reaches the window glass channel runs. Don’t forget hatchback lids or lift-gates and hoods. If you run into a stubborn sticking lock cylinder, try any trusted brand of lock de-ice. It will contain a light lubricant that may do the trick.

7. Floor mats. Never stack floor mats on top of one another or use a mat that’s too thick. The risk of jamming your accelerator pedal to the floor is real and the results can be catastrophic. Winter floor mats help reduce salt stains on carpeting. Floor liners from Weathertech, Aries, and Westin offer better coverage. They also prevent mat creeping. Don’t forget to remove mats from time to time throughout the winter to dry them out indoors. Moisture on floor mats is the cause of hard frost appearing on the inside of windshields and door glasses

​8. Trunk necessities. If you mainly drive in urban areas there really isn’t much need for a full-blown survival kit in the trunk. Food supplies like granola bars just attract vermin anyway. But everyone should have a full jug of washer fluid. Pack a light snow shovel and lined work gloves. Bring a good ice scraper and snow brush combo. Carry a bright flashlight that can stand or hang. Add a set of emergency reflectors. Keep a first-aid kit that handles freezing temperatures. Include folding traction mats.
If you drive an older vehicle, you may want booster cables. Choose a set that includes clear instructions for use. Blankets, warming candles and such should only be considered for longer trips into sparsely populated areas. And always properly secure your cargo. For minivans, crossovers, and SUVs, the cargo area is not separate from the passenger area. In a crash or rollover, loose items can fly forward. They can seriously injure or kill someone.

9. Ballast. Leave the idea of patio stones or concrete pavers at the curb. If you think a loose snow brush hurts when it hits your head in a crash, consider this.A 40-pound piece of concrete can cause far more damage. The best weight to carry to improve traction is fuel in the tank. This lowers the mass closer to the ground for better stability. It also reduces the impact of winter water contamination in the tank.

10. Clothing. This might seem like a no-brainer, but on your next commute on a –30 ºC morning, take a look at how your fellow commuters dress for the drive. If you’re not dressed to walk a few blocks in winter weather, you’re not dressed to drive. A warm, comfortable driver is safer than a frozen one. Being stranded in sandals or running shoes can lead to frostbite quickly. Dress in layers, remove what you have to during longer trips but keep the gear close at hand. Another benefit of the right clothing is that at busy intersections, you can open a window a bit. This helps you hear what is going on around you. This added sensory input can help you avoid collisions.