Do I need to winterize my vehicle for SoCal? 

You live in Southern California because of the year-round sunny environment that is devoid of snow and ice in the winter. But even in Orange County, the weather does turn colder, with the day highs dipping below the upper 60s Fahrenheit and the overnight lows below the 50’s. You need to winterize your vehicle so that it can endure these temperatures, frequent rains, and an occasional ski trip into the mountains.

Check Your Tires

A 10-degree drop in ambient temperature reduces pressure by one pound per square inch, increasing rolling resistance and making cars harder to move, particularly if they’re hybrids or electric vehicles (EVs). Check the pressure of the tires and fill the tires to the correct pressure as temperatures go down.

To guarantee better traction and handling when it rains, have a look at your tread depth by inserting a penny head-down into the tread. If you see all of Lincoln’s head, you need to replace your tires.

Precondition Your Car

For instant warmth when you enter your vehicle, turn on the engine by remote or by using an app, which heats the steering wheel and seats. If you’ve got an electric or a plug-in hybrid, turn on the heat while the car is still connected to your charger, which avoids having to use the car battery for initially warming the interior.

Put It in the Garage

Keeping your car inside protects it from the bad weather that often haunts the winter months. Because a garage or indoor parking lot is relatively warm compared to the exterior, the batteries in your EV or plug-in hybrid will stay charged longer. You also won’t have to brave a torrential downpour or high winds when moving from your home or building to your vehicle.

Prep for the Mountains

Because the entire point of heading to the mountains is to take advantage of snow and ice by skiing, snowboarding, and engaging in other winter activities, you’ll have to swap out your summer performance tires for snow tires or add chains. You may want to reduce wear on your sun-loving car by renting a four-wheel drive that can better deal with the icy roads.

Manage the Fluids

A conventional vehicle or hybrid depends on fluids like oil, while all cars, including EVs, rely on transmission fluid, coolant, brake fluid, and transmission. All these liquids need to be topped off before the cold season to avoid breakdowns in the middle of bad weather. If you bring your car in for regularly scheduled maintenance, these items will be taken care of. Otherwise, it would be best if you manually managed these fluids according to the instructions in your owner’s manual.

Bring It In

The most convenient way to winterize your vehicle is to bring it to the Service Center of a dealer that belongs to the Beach Boulevard of Cars in Huntington Beach. Let the factory-certified automotive technicians know how you plan to use your car in cold weather, and they can recommend the best ways to get your vehicle ready.