Cold conditions make extra demands on a car battery in winter. But car maintenance should be a year-round process. Your brake fluid or engine oil shouldn’t be low, or your wiper blades ineffective — try to stay on top of maintenance and, at least once a year, have your car inspected by a mechanic to make sure it’s sound. Get a full mechanical inspection, including brakes, exhaust, suspension, belts, hoses, battery and fluids.

Having a battery check can make the difference between your car starting and not starting when winter weather takes hold. The issue is that the chemical reaction in a battery slows down as the temperature drops. At 0°C, a battery loses about 35 percent of its power, and by -18°C, a battery is down by about 60 percent of its power. If the battery isn’t performing well to start with, it just won’t have the power to start your car as the temperature plummets. You can even book a mobile battery test (in Regina and Saskatoon) with CAA. The battery team can test your battery health right in your own driveway — and even change it on the spot if it’s needed. The experts at CAA Battery Depot in Regina can help you with all your battery needs!

For winter, it’s a good idea to get the coldest-rated washer fluid you can find. You’ll want to use up any summer washer fluid that’s in your reservoir well before the temperatures drop — usually by the end of September. Summer washer fluid is fine for warmer months, but he explains that come October, during the first night below zero, that stuff will freeze solid.