• Home
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Policy
  • Guest Post
  • Archive

One Cent At A Time

A Personal finance blog to get rich

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Beautiful Life
  • Becoming Rich
  • Beginners Guide
  • Extra Income
  • Productivity
  • Saving Money

8 Winter Car Care Secrets to Save You Money

February 16, 2012 16 Comments

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Email

The following is a guest post from Micah Moon, who talks about winter car care in this article.

There’s no doubt the same principles that apply to car care in the summer do not apply in the colder winter months.

While your car zipped through summer with only the sound of the air conditioning buzzing in your ear, now that the winter chill is upon us, you may notice a few differences in the way your car handles and sounds.

Follow these eight winter car care secrets to save you money and extend the life of your car.

1. Tune it up. A tune-up at the beginning of the season is possibly the best thing you can do for your car before winter begins. In colder temperatures, the metal on your car expands and contracts causing belts to squeak, gears to stick and a lag in transmission shifting. A seasonal tune-up will help prevent squeaking, scraping and sticking, and prevent additional damage that often costs a lot of money to repair.

2. Oil it up. Make sure to get an oil change at the beginning of the winter season. This is important because there is a special grade of engine oil to use during the winter that offers a different viscosity and allows for more fluidity between all the moving parts within your car. This simple switch can go a long way in extending the life of your car, which will save you money.

3. Wash it up. The salt that covers icy streets and sidewalks can rust and damage your car. Spending about $10 a week on a thorough car wash – including underneath the body — can save you hundreds, and even thousands, of dollars in  auto body repairs by helping prevent rust.

(Related – Save money on car rental)

4. Fill it up. When it’s cold, make sure to fill up using the right types of transmission fluid, engine oil, anti-freeze and other fluids for cold weather. This should save you money by preventing damage that results from using fluids that aren’t graded for low temperatures. Proper de-icing windshield wiper fluid will also put off the need to buy new windshield wiper blades, which often become dull and break after getting stuck trying to wipe away ice, sleet and snow.

5. Switch it up. Always keep tires properly filled and, if you can afford to, invest in seasonal/snow tires. Doing so will not only save your suspension as you drive on difficult winter terrain, but also may save you from having to purchase another set of tires when your everyday tires wear down sooner than expected.

6. Gas it up. Make sure you always have at least a half tank of gas to prevent running out and having to call a tow truck, which doesn’t come cheap.

7. Stock it up. Invest in an emergency car kit that includes a flashlight, flares, blanket, first aid kit, shovel and even tire chains. This purchase could save you hundreds of dollars by preventing the need to call a tow truck and allowing you to get where you’re going on time.

8. Protect it up. Lastly, one of the best ways to save money is to make sure you always have the vehicle insurance you need to protect yourself from all winter risks. Finding the insurance coverage you need is as easy as doing some research and requesting a few quotes – so protect yourself and your car this winter!

SB’s thought: I can’t thank my fate enough that I live in South Florida where I don’t have to deal with this situation. The thought of driving up and down an elevated roadway in icy condition gives me cold feet. I hope you will follow the tips and save car care cost while having a safer drive.

What do you think readers? Do you have any other tips to share with others?

LIKE THIS POST?
I agree to have my personal information transfered to MailChimp ( more information )
Join our community of 8000+ subscribers to increase your net worth and build wealth
We hate spam. Your email address will not be sold or shared with anyone else.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Email
The tool that changed the way I manage my personal finance - Personal Capital, The Best Free Personal Finance Tool

Want to start a WordPress blog now? The onecentatatime.com blog is hosted by Siteground Web Hosting. For only $3.95 a month, Siteground can help you set up and host your website/blog quickly and easily.

About the Blogger Hi I am SB, a personal finance enthusiast with a career in software development. I am an immigrant to the USA since 2005, after being born and brought up in India. This 40 something technocrat lives and breathes personal finance whenever he gets time from the day job, job as a husband and a dad

Some links on this page may be affiliate links, if you make a purchase following the links, I may earn a commission. Read affiliate disclosure here
« The Pro’s and Con’s of Preparing Your Own Taxes
How to Shop for an Engagement Ring to Maximize Value for Money »

Comments

  1. Hank says

    February 16, 2012 at 9:31 AM

    An emergency kit can be extremely important. Many Southerners do not realize the importance of an emergency kit, but I quickly figured it out when I lived in North Dakota for a year.

    Reply
    • SB says

      February 16, 2012 at 11:02 AM

      That’s because we don’t have to deal with icy condition.

      Reply
  2. Money Beagle says

    February 16, 2012 at 11:35 AM

    Keeping your tires properly inflated is always good, but you should check more often in cold weather as pressure will decrease the colder it gets.

    Reply
    • SB says

      February 16, 2012 at 1:36 PM

      great point, a value added comment here. thanks MB

      Reply
  3. AverageJoe says

    February 16, 2012 at 11:52 AM

    Jumping on Money Beagle’s comment, the tire pressure point is easily kept up, but people forget to check. If you take 10 minutes once a week to check your tire pressure, you’ll have dramatic results.

    Reply
    • SB says

      February 16, 2012 at 1:33 PM

      10 mins a week could save $10 a month, good point Joe

      Reply
  4. Jon Rhodes says

    February 16, 2012 at 1:30 PM

    Good tips – here’s another! Try to group lots of shorter journeys together. A car is far more fuel efficient when warm. So if you can group together several short journeys, you should save some fuel, especially in the winter.

    One positive of it being winter is that you drive with the windows closed, which is better for aerodynamics and fuel economy.

    Reply
    • SB says

      February 16, 2012 at 1:33 PM

      This definitely goes a long to reduce on gas expenses. good tip.

      Reply
  5. 1KcDesi says

    February 16, 2012 at 4:11 PM

    One Additional Point to consider:
    Use Nitrogen to inflate the tires, if available for free (e.g) Costco members or through some other organization. It is supposed to prevent moisture, increase tire life and increase fuel efficiency.
    “http://getnitrogen.org/why/”
    KcDesi

    Reply
    • SB says

      February 16, 2012 at 8:25 PM

      Thats interesting! Never heard of that. Do you have first hand experience with Nitrogen filling?

      Reply
      • 1KcDesi says

        February 20, 2012 at 6:26 PM

        Hey SB

        Yes. I am a Costco member and bought tires from them for a reasonable price. They have nitrogen tanks and fill the customers tires for free 🙂

        My last set of tires were replaced after more than 50,000 miles. So I believe there is some truth to the above web site claims..

        1KcDesi

        Reply
  6. Hunter - Financially Consumed says

    February 16, 2012 at 8:19 PM

    Great tips! The last two are the most important IMO.

    Reply
    • SB says

      February 16, 2012 at 8:25 PM

      Thanks Hunter, whats the condition in Virginia beach? DO you need special care during winter?

      Reply
  7. PFM says

    February 16, 2012 at 8:55 PM

    I would be careful about recommending using a different weight of oil, engines are built to use a specific grade (ie 5w-30), changing can do more harm than good. Also, put some food in the emergency kit, you’ll be thankful for the Pop-tarts or granola bars if you’re stuck for a few hours on a closed highway and keep a spare cell phone charger (the type that works in a cigarette lighter) in there too.

    Reply
    • SB says

      February 17, 2012 at 8:59 AM

      very practical advice in deed. Once we were stuck when friend’s car broke down on highway. We were stuck for 4 hr. I had to drive and buy water and food, from a store 30 mins away.

      Reply
  8. [email protected] epping says

    December 26, 2014 at 1:31 AM

    Hey SB

    These are great tip. Here I would like to add something, reguler maintenance is very important in winter.Check the coolant system.Make sure the radiator and water pump are working properly, and a coolant system flush will give your car a performance edge throughout the winter.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.



Create your own blog in 20 minutes and $20

Personal Capital, a free tool to change your financial health today

I use and suggest Upstart, for your personal loan need

CreditKarma, a free tool to check your credit scorey

I use Coinbase, for my crypto investments

101 Cents at a Time

101 Ways to Earn Extra Money on the Side
201 Frugal and Perfect Birthday Gifts
101 Ways to Save Money Everyday
101 Ways to be Better and Successful at Work
101 Ways to Save Environment and Energy
101 Frugal and Romantic Anniversary Ideas
101 Low-Cost Men's Fashion Ideas
101 Personal Finance Tips
101 Ways to Reuse Household Stuff
101 Things to Do, When Nothing to Do
101 College Graduation Gift Ideas
100 Tips for Ecommerce Startup
101 Ways to Enjoy Indoor During Winter
101 Ways to Beat Procrastination

Popular Posts

Quick Cash - How to make $100 legally, in a day
Living well on less than $15,000 a Year
Top survey sites for side income
What to do when auto repair goes wrong
Where should I invest my money now?
20 Ways to be productive and happy at work
51 Ways to get out of debt
Be a better person in 15 days, 15 ways
Income ideas for retirees and senior citizens
51 side jobs for college students
Urgently need a large amount of money?
Should I buy or should I rent?
Best Personal loan providers
25 Ways to save environment
25 DIY car repairs to save money
How to decorate office cubicle
How to show your wife you care
50 Financial Rules for Success
51 Frugal weekend family activity ideas
Become Rich By Saving 1 Hour Of Daily Wage
How much do I need to save for retirement?
How to negotiate your salary

Follow us on FaceBook

About Author

SB

Blogger by choice and IT manager by profession. Finance is my passion and gardening is my greatest satisfaction. Born in India, settled in US, Husband and a father. I created this blog in 2011 with a vision to help others. Thanks for your patronage. More info on my "about" page.

View all posts


Subscribe

Join our community of 5000+ subscribers to increase net worth and build wealth

Advertisements

Personal Stories

How I got a new HP computer replaced
Was COVID circulating in USA in fall of 2019?
How my credit score went up 800+
Why I didn’t invest in Bitcoins
How I controlled impulses to buy things
Why this blog is named One Cent at a Time

Subscribe via Email

Site Disclaimer

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in this web site are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Read full Affiliate disclosure


One Cent at a Time is published by SB. The opinions expressed herein by him are his own and not those of his employer or anyone else. All content on One Cent at a Time is for entertainment purposes only. By reading this blog, you agree that SB and/or One Cent at a Time is not responsible for any actions taken after reading this blog. For the full disclaimer, click here .

Major Media Mention

One Cent at a Time Media Appearances

Copyright © 2023 One Cent At A Time · Designed by Nuts and Bolts Media