Winter isn't just a difficult season for people; it's the hardest on cars too. During the winter months, drivers should be prepared to do more maintenance and preventative work with their vehicles. Paying a little extra attention can make a substantial difference down the road, ensuring your car lasts through many more winters. Alaskan Auto Center, auto maintenance experts in Anchorage, AK, explains how to keep your vehicle safe and to perform at a high level through the season’s most frigid temperatures.

Top 3 Tips for Keeping Your Car Safe in Winter

1. Let Your Car Warm Up

During cold nights, engine fluids can get thick and sludgy and even freeze. When you go to start your car in the morning, the liquids under the hood need time to warm up and soften. After nights where temperatures dip below freezing, give your engine around 10 minutes to warm up before hitting the road. 

2. Keep an Eye on Your Battery

Mechanics will tell you that batteries lose a significant portion of their charge during the winter. The lower temperatures get, the weaker batteries become. Be aware of your battery's decreased capacity during winter, and if you consistently have trouble turning the ignition over in the morning, get the vehicle looked at by an auto maintenance professional. 

3. Take It Easy on the Transmission

In addition to the requisite 10 minutes to warm your engine up on cold mornings, drivers should also start at lower speeds on the road. This is because when fluids are still warming up and your engine isn't operating at full strength, more pressure is put on your car's transmission. Drive too fast and you'll strain the transmission further. Try to drive under 30 miles per hour for the first few miles of your morning commute. 

Alaskan Auto Center has offered premier auto maintenance and repair work to drivers in the Greater Anchorage area for over 17 years. The highly trained mechanics specialize in a full range of services, including brake repair, tire rotation, transmission and engine repair, as well as replacements. Visit the team online to learn more about their maintenance work, or call to speak with them directly at (907) 522-7035.