Winter’s arrived and that means your car is about to go through a tough couple of months. But if you know how to get ‘er into shape for the cold, there’s nothing to fear. Don’t and prepare for a frosty breakdown. Luckily, I was able to get Vern Gadnon, head instructor for Montana State’s Automotive and Technology Department (go Bobcats!) on the phone to give us the lowdown on how to winterize your ride.

Fall Planning
Preparing your rig for extreme weather only works if you’re on top of scheduled maintenance all year long. “Start with all-weather tires,” advises Gagnon. “Don’t just get them on the front two driving wheels—you’ll need the full set to keep from spinning out.” If that’s beyond your budget, top off your existing treads to their recommended cold-tire pressure—“It varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, but you should be able to find the number near the hinge of the driver’s side door”—to ensure a safe journey on those occasions you can actually afford gas.

Juicing Up
Anti-freeze breaks down over time, and a weak solution can turn to jelly when chilled and cause your engine to overheat. “You’ll know because there won’t be any heat inside, but the engine temperature indicator on the dash will say ‘warm,’” explains Gagnon. To prevent this schizophrenic hot-cold effect, buy a quality coolant additive that returns your anti-freeze to its adequate protection level. And while under the hood, check the battery: “If it’s pushing three years, have a mechanic perform a ‘load test’ to see if it still starts the car in the cold. Your battery has to put out 350 percent more energy in low temperatures.” Is it older than three years? Buy a new one or keep your car in neutral and have the kids push.

Buckling Down
It’s time to stop using the rain to wash off your windshield. “Wiper fluids are designed not only to clean, but also to leave a film on the windshield that prevents ice from forming,” says Gagnon. Before you squirt away, blast your defroster for a solid two minutes to warm up the glass (otherwise the stuff just freezes on contact). Be sure to carry extra fluid, as well as a good ice scraper, a blanket, a flare, and a small snow shovel. If you live in an obscenely cold climate and can’t park your car in a garage, get a clamp-on oil heater or engine-block heater you can plug into an outlet. That way, your Civic Hatchback will start…even if it can’t get out of the driveway.