Fresh, Clean Fluids
Make sure all engine fluids are fresh and clean. Fresh engine oil allows the
engine to crank easily in cold weather. Clean power steering fluid makes for
smooth easy steering. Brakes work more effectively with fresh clean brake fluid,
and fresh clean engine coolant at a 50-50 mix prevents the engine block from
freezing when temperatures drop.
A note about oil: One of the great properties of good synthetic oil is that it
flows easily in cold weather. AMSOIL and Mobil 1 are the two best synthetic
oils in winter flow tests. An engine with synthetic oil in the crankcase cranks
easily when it’s cold, resulting in a crisp startup.
Tires
Good traction is essential if you want to get around in winter conditions. Make
sure there’s at least 70 percent tread on your tires. All-weather tires will get you
around on most snow-laden highways adequately. Ideally, experts have found
that (on front-wheel-drive vehicles) four snow tires are the ticket to sure-footed
winter travel. A vehicle with four snow tires will track much better around
corners. With two snow tires on the traction wheels and non-snows on the
trailing wheels, the end of the vehicle without snow tires has a tendency to spin
out.