Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
Get your vehicle ready for winter. Explore the essential winter vehicle maintenance tasks that keep your car in top shape.
There are several winter vehicle maintenance tasks you need to complete to prepare your vehicle for the cold seasonal temperatures just around the corner.
Today, I will discuss how you can prepare your vehicle for a cold Canadian winter.
Get Your Vehicle Ready For A Cold Canadian Winter
Ignoring winter auto care is asking for trouble, which can lead to costly repairs and lost time.
Take care of your vehicle, which will take care of you, costing you less over time in repairs.
Having a winter vehicle checklist will ensure you are taking care of the fundamentals.
If winter vehicle maintenance isn’t in your budget, I’d suggest adding this category if your vehicle is a necessity.
Related: What budget categories are needed when using a budget?
Winter Vehicle Maintenance Saves You Money.
Below are my winter vehicle maintenance checklist items, keeping our vehicles in optimal condition during the cold Canadian winter.
Don’t think that your car can survive the winter without undergoing basic winter vehicle maintenance checks, because it won’t.
Oil Spraying
When I came to Canada, Mrs. CBB had a new vehicle, and she had it “oil sprayed” every year by a Krown winter vehicle maintenance service.
We still own this vehicle, which is just over 13 years old, and it remains in mint condition.
Sure, the mileage is low, but very little ever goes wrong.
None of the wiring is corrupted, there are no rusted-through doors or rocker panels, it starts the first time every time, never fails an e-test, and has never broken down.
I’ll be the first to admit that getting your vehicle oil sprayed doesn’t solve all your vehicle issues; good general maintenance is still vital.
Like my father, I always buy the Haynes manual for the particular vehicle/s we own.
It’s a great resource if you’re unsure about how to repair problems, as it provides a step-by-step approach.
Winter Vehicle Maintenance Tip: Remember that salt on your shoes can also damage the interior of your car.
We get the car cleaned out (most places do a salt removal package) at the end of winter.
Winter Tires Are Essential
I swap our All-Season Tires to Michelin X-Ice Winter Tires myself, as most places charge approximately $40, and if I can do it myself, I can save the money.
Winter Tires provide more grip at colder temperatures as they are made of a softer compound rubber.
Check the tire pressures, as the pressure will fall as the temperature drops.
Remember, when swapping out your tires, ensure they are on the correct side of the vehicle.
So far, our winter tires have lasted us about ten years, and there is hardly any wear on the tires at all.
It is worth the investment, not only for cost, but you can’t put a price on your life.
Winter Vehicle Maintenance Tip: Check the amount of tread left on the tires; built-in wear bar indicators will usually give you a good idea.
Another money-saving tip before you purchase your tires is to sign up for rewards programs.
The shop that you purchase winter tires from, for example, Canadian Tire, may work with Rakuten and offer you cash back.
There is also the possibility that you’ll find a promotional code online, which can be very helpful.
Since tires are expensive, why not search the web for promo codes, discounts, or cashback rewards?
Wiper Blades And Windshield Washer Fluid
Ensure the winter wipers are in good condition, or swap out your summer blades for winter blades.
Streaks across the windshield show the wiper blade is starting to fail.
These streaks can interfere with your vision while driving.
Swap your summer washer fluid for a winter formula that won’t freeze.
I usually buy a box of 4 jugs when it goes on special; it tends to be cheaper than single jugs, and you know you’ll use them.
Windshield Washer Fluid
Winter Vehicle Maintenance Tip: Always keep a jug of windshield washer fluid readily available in your vehicle during the winter.
Oil Change
If you perform the oil change yourself, ensure the viscosity is correct for the temperature range the vehicle will be subjected to.
I changed my engine oil and filter to get a $60+ oil change for $35.
Refer to the manual that came with your vehicle for additional information.
Fluid Levels And Condition
You can check the coolant level and condition, but you’ll need test strips or a refractometer to test it yourself.
Most batteries are maintenance-free, so you can’t check the electrolyte in the cells.
I leave the battery on a long, low-amp charge to help reduce sulfation.
Some auto repair shops will test your battery for free, such as Canadian Tire, but beware: some electronic testers can fail a perfect battery.
If in doubt, get a second test on a carbon pile before buying a new battery.
Check the power steering fluid level, brake fluid level, transmission level (for both standard and automatic), and differential level if you have a rear-wheel drive, and transfer case if you have a more traditional 4×4.
Mild Winter Days And Car Washes
It’s always worth taking the car to the self-wash in the winter on mild days to wash off the salt build-up.
For the few dollars it will cost you at the car wash, it can save you more down the road.
Be careful; don’t wash off the oil spray you just got done on your vehicle as part of your winter vehicle maintenance.
Just be careful; wet brakes tend to have less coefficient of friction, meaning they’re not going to break as well as they would if the tires were dry.
Fuel And Oil Additives
There’s a multitude of fuel and oil additives on the market, some of which are designed for the driver more than the car.
Gasoline antifreeze seems to be a product bought by men that flies off the shelf, but I’d do a little research before adding anything.
It is made with up to 10% ethanol (as stated on the pump), which is an alcohol and already has a much lower freezing point than water.
Gasoline itself has a relatively low freezing point, so why add it?
If you do suffer from freezing gas lines in your car, you likely have other problems, such as water in your tank.
If you or your partner isn’t available, most auto service centers offer a winterization package that is likely worth every penny.
Having a good winter vehicle is better than taking risks with your life and pocketbook.
A bit of winter vehicle maintenance goes a long way in preventing many vehicle issues and can save you money in the long run.
Ontario Winter Car Maintenance Checklist
Print this free winter vehicle maintenance checklist for your budget binder.
🔧 Tires & Wheels
☐ Install winter tires (below 7°C)
☐ Check tire tread depth (min. 3.5 mm recommended)
☐ Check tire pressure weekly (cold air lowers PSI)
☐ Rotate tires if needed
🧊 Fluids
☐ Check antifreeze level (protects to -40°C)
☐ Top up winter-grade windshield washer fluid
☐ Change to winter-grade engine oil (check owner’s manual)
☐ Check brake fluid and power steering fluid
🔋 Battery
☐ Test battery condition and charge
☐ Clean terminals and tighten cables
☐ Replace battery if over 4–5 years old
🌬️ Heating & Visibility
☐ Test heater and defroster
☐ Replace wiper blades (use winter type)
☐ Check all lights (headlights, brake, signal, reverse)
☐ Keep extra windshield washer fluid in trunk
🧥 Emergency Kit
☐ Blanket or extra clothing
☐ Ice scraper and snow brush
☐ Jumper cables
☐ Flashlight + extra batteries
☐ Small shovel and traction aid (kitty litter or sand)
☐ First aid kit
☐ Snacks and water
☐ Phone charger/power bank
🛠️ Body & Mechanical
☐ Check brakes and suspension
☐ Lubricate locks and door seals (graphite/silicone spray)
☐ Keep gas tank at least half full
☐ Wash and wax the car regularly to remove salt
☐ Check exhaust for leaks (important for idling in snow)
🧤 Before Driving
☐ Clear snow and ice from all windows, mirrors, roof, and lights
☐ Warm up engine only 1–2 minutes (idling longer wastes fuel)
☐ Plan extra travel time and check road conditions (e.g., Ontario 511)
Discussion Question: What types of winter maintenance do you perform on your vehicle?
Great tips. I’m off to change my oil as we speak. What’s that old phrase that an ounce of prevention…
These are great tips Mr. CBB. Luckily, we don’t really have bad winters here in North Carolina, so I don’t worry much about winterizing my car. I do take care of the usual as I am very handy with cars. It is my passion other than blogging about money.
You are all making me jealous that keep posting you get hardly any or no snow. I need a nice vacation home I think. You are right maintaining your vehicle during any season not just winter is important to prolong the life of the vehicle. Cheers mate!
Great post. I’m off to get my oil changed as soon as I’m finished writing this. I’m glad you reminded me to check tire pressures, too. That’s something I have to remember and remind my teens about.
So many people forget to check the pressure especially in change of seasons. Passing along the knowledge to your kids will be valuable. Cheers mate! Mr.CBB
I switched my winter tires over myself this year for the first time. It took about 45 minutes but it was certainly worth saving the $40 and it wasn’t difficult at all. I am definitely an advocate for winter tires as I saw a car slide through an intersection on Sunday as he was trying to stop for a light. He locked up his tires and slid head on into another car waiting to turn. No one was hurt but it could have been avoided with winter tires. Great post Mr. CBB!
Good For you!! My brother in law, took him 3 hours to do his tires. I told him next year I’ll do it for him, takes me 20 minutes or so as it’s super easy. I keep both sets on rims on all times so that helps as well. I’ve seen many many many vehicles in the ditch since moving here. Cheers mate.
I am not switching to winter tires or oil spraying. They are GREAT things to do but I drive very short distances, my boyfriend has winter tires so worse come to worse I can take his car and my car is old and probably not going to last too much longer anyway. Once I get a car upgrade I do plan on putting in money to it to make sure it lasts!
It really depends on how long you want to keep your car in tip top shape.When you put some good money into a newer car like you mentioned you will you will want to protect it. Spending money on vehicles to buy them is such a waste so buy it once and take good care of it. I paid cash around $16k for my vehicle and over $30k for the wife so anything we can do to protect and prolong it from turning into a rust box on wheels is worth it to us long or short distant driving. We get tonnes of salt on the roads here so some vehicles look pretty rough. Winter tire make a huge difference to driving even I recognized since moving to Canada and is well documented. I’d recommend it although they aren’t cheap and you need storage for your all season. I installed a rack in the garage for our off season tires.
Good tips Mr. CBB! I’ve actually been thinking of writing a post on this as well. By doing a few things you can help set your car up well for the winter. Thankfully we realty don’t need special tires, but we do buy ones that do better I winter weather.
How much snow do you all normally get where you live?
I’d never heard of oil spraying before. But I do always change the oil when the whether starts getting colder so that it has a lower viscosity oil in there.
Hey!
It’s an undercoating you can get that protects the vehicle from rust and corrosion in the winter from all the salt on the roads. It’s well worth the money.. we pay around $135 a year to get it done and our vehicle is almost 10 years old and is mint inside and out.
Great tips. As someone who drives a rear wheel drive vehicle, I don’t know what I’d do without winter tires. Oh yea, not get very far!! 🙂
Same here but I don’t have any tires for my truck yet so I have to take out the heavy duty tank with snow tires.. that’s ok though it’s a pretty reliable ride.
I’m all about car maintenance, and love the Haynes manual! In the northwest, we don’t get extreme weather, so we don’t have salt on the roads or anything (luckily!). But having a good cold-start battery, proper fluid levels, and washing the gunk off can really extend the life of your car. Also, if you can, parking in the garage with help a ton!
We have a double garage and I park both vehicles inside. Honestly when I’m out and about I see some neighbours who have their garage filled to the rafters with stuff yet park their vehicles outside. Kinda defeats the purpose…don’t you think? Cheers Jacob!
Another good way to prepare your car for winter! Move somewhere warm =)
No need for winterizing down here in sunny FL!
Nice, rub it in mate! I wish… maybe a retirement home? lol.. Cheers!
The main reason the boy got rims on his winters as well this year was so we can change the tires out themselves. Otherwise, he was paying almost $200 to switch out his tires every year! Crazy!
So vacation home in Florida, hey? 🙂
I wish a vacation home anywhere hot.. preferably in Europe.. but anything hot will do. Yes it’s so worth it to get the rims as they will pay for themselves if you do the job yourself. He’s a smart bloke.
We try to be very diligent with our car maintenance all year long. We use studded tires in the winter for safety and longevity. We get tires for twice as long. We also check to make sure we have the right window fluid. Freezing those pipes with the summer stuff sucks.
One thing I always do is keep back up in the vehicle of a good winter window fluid. There’s nothing like running out when you are on the highway or when driving and slush and salt is getting kicked up on the windows. Such a bad safety hazard. Cheers and thanks for dropping in. Mr.CBB
We are receiving gobs of snow and need to put the winter tires on soon-ish (as in, like, yesterday.) M. luckily does most of the car maintenance outlined above. I however would just let my car fall apart around me!
I’ve just gotten mine ready in the nick of time. I just have to book in for an undercoating and I’ll be ready to rock and roll!!! Thanks for dropping in mate.
We winterize the truck every year…. letting the garage we use to do the work, they check things over and give a tune up but only if needed. We trust these guys to do what needs doing. They switch out the tires for us and have let us know in the past if a tire or two will need replacing in the near future. ‘You’ll need 2 new all seasons come spring there…. I’ll start looking for a deal for you and get back to you’ …. kind of thing. We keep an eye on the washer fluid levels all the time. We just had the truck in for it’s oil undercoat and haven’t seen the bill yet but I think Jeff said it would be around $80.00. They do it there, not some where else. May not be Krown exactly but it still works fine. The truck is a 1998 and still in pretty good shape. It’s a truck…. we don’t exactly baby it much…..
Good for you at least you are being proactive about getting the work done. We always get Krown but that doesn’t mean it’s the only undercoating out there. Take care of the car and it will take care of you. Cheers Christine!!
With weekly trips into London for medical appointments we need reliable so we do keep an eye on things. In a pinch I’d likely be able to get a loaner from the shop but if I can avoid it I will. I’m just crossing my fingers for the weather this winter. Every Wed we go…. But if the roads are open I can make it. I’ve driven in some truly nasty conditions between here and there…….
Travelling in the winter is the pits. I hope you stay safe.
We don’t have to do too much winterizing, but you just reminded me that I need to get my back tires replaced. For some reason car things are at the bottom of my list of things I want to be doing. blech!
Most times it is for people but it should be the top as it carries your life. Good luck getting those tires mate even if it is blech… Cheers Bridget!!
I have nominated you for Blog of the Year 2012 Award. You can see it here: http://wp.me/pZNV9-1d8 Congrats!
Thanks I will have to do that. I don’t have a spot for an actual award and 2013 is around the corner. So how would that work? I guess we won’t be collecting more than one star?
You’re right. The one star must stand alone. Onward to 2013 to collect an abundance of stars and awards!
Thanks for letting me know! I’ll see if I can add that in my Friday post… cheers and thanks again mate
I’ve always switched out to snow tires for my commute to the mountain town I’ve work in for years, but I don’ have to go that much this year, so we did not get new snow tires. We try to keep our 4×4 truck in the garage until we need it for weather. Thankfully, they don’t use salt here. It is a killer. I did hit a deer on my way home tonight. Nothing to do with winter, but I’m still shaken up so watch for wildlife if you aren’t in the city!
Where I live temperatures often get down for -30C in the winter, so winterization is a necessity. I always get winter tires on but there are a lot of things on this list that I hadn’t thought of! I’ll be forwarding this to my hubby to see if he’s up for any of these money saving tips.
Thankfully they don’t use salt on the roads here, so car bodies tend to last a lot longer than in Ontario. Unfortunately, I haven’t had my tires swapped yet (plan for this wknd) and the two times I’ve had to drive the truck since the weather switched were not so hot! The car is handling much better, due to its fancy tires!
Very useful advice! In Quebec where I lived for most of my life I’m glad the province made it mandatory a few years ago to put on snow tires during the winter months or face a fine if caught. I’ve been able to maintain my 7+ year old car in near mint condition because of regular maintainance. My husband is near anal about checking fluids, tire pressure, and any parts that may appear to be corroded.
My husband is so funny – he’s a southern guy, and didn’t realize there were a such thing as snow tires until he went up north for school! I’m a native of the Great Lakes, so that’s a way of life for us!
I never used them in the UK only when I moved here to Canada… lol.. funny he never knew of them
Thanks for the reminder to check the anti-freeze! It got down to 43 degrees last night, burrr!
Thanks for the reminder to check the anti-freeze! The temperature dropped to 43 degrees last night, burrr!
OMG… that’s pretty cold mate… Cheers!
a few years back I used to take for granted storage…. just parking the car in my fathers barn, sometimes I go so far as to cover it with a tarp. But I learned the hard way as corrosion got the underbelly pretty bad and had a mouse problem in the interior…all in the same winter! found this to help also… http://www.thinkinsure.ca/car-auto-insurance-tips/Insurance-and-Winter-Storage-Tips-for-your-Classic-Car-in-Ontario.html
Jon D.
What a very well written blog post. Everyone that has to drive in winter weather should read it to make sure they are prepared. It just flabbergasts me the number of car owners that don’t know how to check the air pressure in a tire or how to top up washer fluid, should be mandatory in order to get your driver’s license.
Why Thank-You Joanna! I always like to hear feedback on my posts! I agree with you that every car owner should know basic maintenance. Mr.CBB
Our milder winters here on the coast mean a different routine. Undercoating is not as essential since they don’t salt the roads as much. That having been said, there is still some salt, so trips through the car wash are important. I keep my all season radials on the car year-round. We have only a few snowy/very icy days each year. On those days, I simply park the car and walk or take the bus. Our rainy weather makes good wiper blades and a stock of windshield washer fluid extra important. My car is under warranty so it gets taken for servicing, including oil changes, on a specific schedule. (I’m all girly-girl about that and choose not to do it myself.)
Either way good maintenance is very important to prolong the effects of rust and having the vehicle turn to a real lemon. Thanks for sharing what happens in Vancouver Beth! Mr.CBB
I was going to say the same thing Beth Anne. I used to do the undercoating when I was in Toronto and Montreal but now that I’m in Vancouver and we drive less than 3,000 km in a year – the winter tires and a winter tune up at the dealership do the trick for us. And we do run thru our local car wash if the weather permits. 🙂 The dealership caught a leaking strut when we had it in to get the winterizing done so on the 22nd we are booked to have that repaired. 🙂
We’ve done the undercoating since we bought the van and there’s not a lick of rust on it. It’s always good to give it the once over to be safe.
A client asked for winter car maintenance tips on Monday. I read 7 articles over the weekend but this article from 2012 was the best one I can find. Thanks for writing this. I’ll be passing it along.
Cheers, Jeremy I appreciate it.