Checklist · Auto · October

Winterize your car before the first snow

Nine checks that keep a car starting and stopping in winter: battery, tires, wipers, fluids and a kit in the trunk. About two hours.

Updated Oct 10, 2026About 2 hours of workBudget $60–200

0 of 9 doneStart with step 1

As an Amazon Associate, Almanac Kit earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are shown on Amazon.

Part 1

Starting and seeing

Cold cuts a battery's power by a third at 32°F. Most auto parts stores test it free. Over four years old, replace it before it strands you.

Regular blades pack with ice and smear. Winter blades have a rubber boot over the frame. Replace them every fall anyway.

Summer fluid freezes in the lines. Look for a mix rated to -20°F and run the sprayers for a few seconds to pull it through.

Part 2

Tires lose about 1 psi for every 10°F drop. Use the number on the driver's door jamb, not the one on the tire.

Put a quarter in the tread, head down. If you can see all of Washington's head, you have less than 4/32 inch left and it's time.

Squealing or a pedal that sinks is worth a check before roads get slick. Many shops inspect free with a tire rotation.

Part 3

Blanket, flashlight, gloves, water, a phone cable and reflective triangles. If you get stuck, these are the next six hours.

Keep the scraper in the cabin, not the trunk, so you can reach it when the trunk is frozen shut.

Less air in the tank means less condensation in the fuel line. It also means heat if you're stuck in traffic for hours.

Keep your progressTicks are saved on this device. Sign in with your email to see them on your other devices too.Sign in with email