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Times Are Changing: Preparing Your Volvo for Colder Months Ahead

Times Are Changing: Preparing Your Volvo for Colder Months Ahead

Posted by Max Rundlett on 18th Sep 2020

It’s that time of year. The weather is beginning to change, leaves are beginning to turn, and for better or worse, it’s getting colder. For the majority of us, our turbocharged cars will actually be happier. The cooler ambient temps allow for more horsepower due to the denser air. But, it also means snow, salt, and other adverse weather conditions affecting your vehicle in the next few months. This week, we’ll review everything that you can do to get ahead of the game and prevent excess wear and tear this winter.

All-Weather Floor Mats

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To start off this list, we’re going to go where you’ll be spending most of your time while driving, and of course that’s inside the car. Nobody wants to get their carpet all dirty from leaves, snow, and salt. To prevent excessive debris build up in your carpets, all-weather floor mats are the way to go. A high quality all-weather floor mat will be a direct replacement for the carpet-matching floor mats your car came with. You can typically get OEM models from the dealer where you bought your Volvo, or laser cut options from  WeatherTech. These mats are easy to remove and clean making it the perfect cold weather upgrade.

Paint Sealant

Amazon.com: Griot's Garage 10627 Red Hand Wax Applicator (Set of 3): Automotive

Moving to the exterior of the car, if you’re driving around in anything but a beater, you might be inclined to protect the glorious paint that Volvo puts on all of their cars. Fortunately, there are plenty of tried and true options available for just that purpose. Sealing off the paint with a quality  wax or ceramic coating will protect your paint from dirt, salt, and even light debris for months to come if applied and maintained properly. It’s generally recommended to wash all the dirt and salt build-up off your car roughly once every two weeks to ensure your paint stays fresh.

Rust Prevention

Volvo V90 Cross Country

The undercarriage of your car is likely where you’ve seen least of, but it’s the thing that takes the most abuse during winter months. Protecting the frame and other suspension components will make your car last longer, but also make you and your mechanic happier when they don’t have to fight with seized parts, adding onto an already expensive repair. There are various ways to go about undercoating your car so we suggest you do some research on what might be best for you. To get you started, we’ve compiled a list of some popular treatments:

  • Waxoyl
  • Fluid Film
  • Oil Coating

Winter Tires

One of the most important “mods” you can do for specifically winter driving is to equip your vehicle with winter tires. While you might think, “My car is AWD, I don’t need winter tires”, all-season tires are often unequipped to keep your car's tires from spinning in adverse conditions. Winter tires are specially designed to pack snow into the crevices due to snow sticking best to itself. They also are made with a different rubber compound designed to stay soft in cold weather when all-season and summer tires become more stiff. Check out the video above demonstrating the benefits of winter tires!

Windshield Wipers and Washer Fluid

Wipers and washer fluid may be something we all take for granted. Making sure that your car's windshield wipers and washer fluid are ready to go is just as important as any other item on this list. It's fairly common for P2 S60, V70, and XC70 owners to experience a failure with the washer tank from corrosion and swelling of the headlight washer pump. Ensuring that your washer system is good to go ahead of time will help prevent getting stuck without any fluid to wash all the salt and grime off your windshield.

Heater Hoses

To cap off these suggestions, something you’ll definitely be using more of is the heat. And if your car is older than 10 years old, it’s possible that the OEM rubber hoses are beginning to wear out. Even if they are not, one way to ensure a long-lasting fit is to upgrade to silicone heater hoses. A thorough check over of your car's cooling system wouldn't hurt either.

We realize that it may seem early to start thinking about winter, but taking all of these things into consideration early on gives you and your car ample time to prepare. Don't feel equipped to do any of this work yourself? Check out a local mechanic and have them do a check over for your car, their trained eye might be able to spot something you missed. If you have any questions about what you can do to prepare yourself for winter, don't hesitate to  email us or message us on social media!