People from all over the world flock to enjoy skiing or snowboarding in Colorado's snow. Driving your car through a Colorado winter isn't nearly as fun. 

Here are 16 tips to get your car ready for winter. As a bonus, Keller's is offering a “Winterize Your Car” special.

Things You Can Do to Get Your Car Ready for Winter

1. Create a car kit. Include things like an ice scraper (a credit card or spatula will also do in a pinch), kitty litter or floor sweep absorbent (for tire traction), a small shovel, chains, extra windshield washer fluid, jumper cables, Fix-A-Flat, a portable air compressor (tires do wonky things in cold weather), wrench, pliers, duct tape, and both kinds of screwdrivers (flathead and Phillips).

2. Create an emergency kit. Depending on the climate where you live, you may want to keep a wool blanket (it will keep you warm even if it gets wet); extra clothes; hat and gloves; clean, dry socks; a rain suit; phone charger; coffee can with a lid; hygiene supplies like toilet paper, wipes, and diapers; water; snacks; hand and foot warmers; a first aid kit; and an emergency lamp or flashlight (remember, Morse code for SOS is dot-dot-dot-dash-dash-dash-dot-dot-dot). A paint can with a large candle safely contained in it can make an effective heater. To avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, NEVER run your car’s engine while trapped in snow. Keep everything in a plastic box that is easily accessible.

3. Prep your headlights. When Mr. Miyagi advised his young student to “wax on, wax off” in “The Karate Kid,” he probably wasn’t referring to toothpaste. But that’s exactly what you should rub on your headlamps to get the grime off. Then, of course, rinse it off, for that minty fresh shine. Afterward, you might want to wax them, so snow and ice are less likely to stick.

4. Clean your car’s undercarriage. Get on your hands and knees to gently spray under your car (or ask a kid to, they’ll think it’s a hilarious request). This removes the winter salt build-up that accrues and eventually eats through vital lines.

5. Protect your windshield and wipers. If you can’t garage your car at night, you can throw a tarp over your windshield and tuck the corners into the front doors. Then just peel it off, and all the snow and ice will come with it. Same with covering your wiper blades with socks. This keeps them cozy and fresh, just like your feet.

6. MacGyver solved all of his problems with duct tape and WD-40. In this case, spraying the latter in your keyholes, door cracks, and the doors’ rubber sealants before freezing temps hit will help prevent ice build-up. You can also use graphite lock lubricant or Teflon spray lube in keyholes prophylactically. Hand sanitizer can help melt lock ice.

7. Check your tire treads. Stick an upside-down penny in your tread. If the top of President Lincoln’s head disappears, you’re still in good shape.

8. Protect your windows from freeze damage by spraying a liberal amount of dry Teflon spray lubricant or spray silicone in the window tracks. Run the windows up and down several times to make sure the tracks are completely coated and protected.

Things Keller’s Auto Care Professionals Can Do

1. An oil change with fresh oil that is the ideal type for your car and winter temperature will ensure that the cold weather season is off to the right start for your car.

2. Murphy’s Law says that your car battery will die only when you are in a hurry. If this happens in the winter, you’ll be cold to boot. Before the first snow hits, ask your Keller’s mechanic to clean the battery terminals and test voltage, internal resistance, and conductance to evaluate the battery’s overall condition. They’ll also test your starter and alternator.

3. The brakes are the most important component of your car. Keller’s will ensure they’re in top working order and inspect the pads, rotors, and drums.

4. Put on winter tires. They help you start and stop faster and perform better on snow and ice. Winter tires can help prevent an accident that would cost you far more in deductibles and increased premiums than seasonal tires would have.

5. Test your coolant. Using appropriate coolant protects your engine and several of its expensive parts from premature replacement.

6. Put on winter wiper blades. Seasonal blades are designed to prevent ice and snow from sticking and impairing your field of vision.

7. Replace the air filter in the cabin. Keeping this fresh reduces the stress on your heater and gets you warmer faster.

8. Keller’s wants you and your passengers to be safe, so they will test all of your exterior lights to see that they’re in good working order.

After you've done all these things, you've got your car ready for whatever winter can throw at you. You can relax, and maybe try that skiing and snowboarding.

Let’s get you started.

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