5 Tips To Prepare Your Lexus For Winter
5 Tips To Prepare Your Lexus For Winter
Posted on October 7, 2024
The winter driving season is fast approaching, and we’re here to help you prepare your Lexus for winter. Vehicle maintenance and care is the best thing you can do for your vehicle and your safety on the road.
Albertans are well acquainted with the big chill of Canadian winters, which can present dangerous road conditions. According to Alberta Traffic Collision Statistics, 24.7% of fatal collisions and 27.3% of non-fatal injury collisions involved winter conditions like slush, snow or ice.
Your safety and comfort are our priority, especially on winter roads. That’s why we’ve written this list of tips to prepare your vehicle for the cold season.
So what can you expect from this winter driving checklist?
Tip 4: Renew Lexus Roadside Membership
Tip 5: Pack & Prepare Safety Precautions
Prepare Your Lexus For Winter With Us
Lexus NX 350 F SPORT in Ultrasonic Blue Mica
5 Tips To Prepare Your Lexus For Winter
Tip 1: Get Winter Tires
You need tires you can rely on. Winter tires can handle anything the season throws at you, from black ice to rush-hour traffic. Moreover, they are made of a rubber compound that remains flexible and grippy in low temperatures.
We recommend watching the Edmonton weather forecast here and making an appointment with our team to swap your tires when daily temperatures drop below 7°C. The deep tread on winter tires improves grip and traction and helps prevent buildup behind the wheels as they disperse water and slush more efficiently.
To learn more about why we highly recommend winter tires: Winter Tires vs All-Season Tires
Tip 2: Service Your Lexus
Secondly, it’s important to perform regular vehicle maintenance, especially as vehicles struggle to run in extreme cold. You can check your luxury car yourself or trust one of our experts. One thing for sure, is you don’t want a faulty battery, heating system or fog light when in a blizzard.
Winter Service Checklist:
- Change the oil
- Check and adjust fluid levels
- Check the battery (and replace if necessary)
- Inspect brake systems and tire pressure
- Check the heating system
- Replace windshield wipers
- Check headlamps and light bulbs
- Use the correct windshield wiper fluid
Windshield wipers can crack and become brittle with extreme temperature changes. We recommend changing them if they appear ineffective and using a fluid approved for conditions up to -30°C to -40°C.
No one wants to wake up to a dead battery and wait for roadside assistance in the dead of winter.
Cold temperatures can take a toll on your vehicle’s battery, as it’s more difficult to start the engine. Avoid power delivery issues by having a technician check your battery at least once a year.
Speaking of a cold start, ensure your block heater is working correctly! From warming the engine up faster to thawing cabin windscreens, block heaters are an Albertan’s winter BFF. Double-check that any electrical cords used to plug into the block heater are clean, dry and free from corrosion.
Learn more about winter car maintenance and fluids here: Preparing Your Car For Winter Checklist
Tip 3: Protect Your Paint
Road salts and wet snow equal a rusty vehicle… and nobody wants that! Taking care of your Lexus’ paint job during winter can help prevent corrosion, dirt buildup, and chipped paint.
Keep it Clean
Dirt buildup and road salts can corrode your vehicle’s paint and cause damage… but don’t fret. Regularly washing your car is the answer! While handwashing can be impossible in -20°C weather, you can visit car washes or get your vehicle detailed. Our dealership offers several detailing packages which can include everything from a tire shine, windshield wiper fluid top-up, paint finish polish, leather conditioning and more.
Book your Lexus Detail appointment here.
Protective Coatings
Our team offers protective ceramic coatings for your vehicle that protect it from sun, UV damage, weather, and scratches. At Lexus South Pointe, we offer both AUTOTRIZ Vehicle Protection Ceramic Coatings and SunTek Paint Protection Film.
These protective coatings, once applied, will help protect your vehicle’s paint in winter. Watch the coating application process here.
Learn more: Car Protective Coatings
Tip 4: Renew Lexus Roadside Membership
Did you know that you can access Lexus Roadside Assistance? Lexus Guests with a new or Certified Pre-Owned Lexus vehicle purchased from a Lexus dealership in Canada get 24-hour emergency roadside and mechanical breakdown assistance, 365 days a year, in Canada or the continental US.
New vehicles receive a 48-month subscription to this service, with pre-owned vehicles receiving 24 months. We recommend checking to see if your Lexus Roadside Membership has expired before the snow starts falling and renewing it to keep your roadside assistance benefits.
Lexus Roadside Assistance includes:
- Battery boost
- Breakdown towing
- Key lockout service
- Fuel delivery service
- Tire change
Tip 5: Pack & Prepare Safety Precautions
Maintaining your vehicle and staying safe during winter doesn’t stop there. Staying vigilant and smart is key!
Here are some of our recommendations for winter driving in Alberta.
Pack an Emergency Winter Kit
If your vehicle breaks down and you’re waiting for Lexus Roadside Assistance, it’s important to have essentials with you.
- Warm blankets/sleeping bag
- Phone charger/battery pack
- Jumper cables
- Spare tire
- Hand warmers
- Water bottles
- Winter gear like boots, gloves etc.
The Government of Alberta has a great winter kit checklist here.
Keep The Gas Tank Full
Don’t let your gas tank get too low. Starting your engine in extreme colds draws more power and uses more fuel, and you don’t want to risk your car not starting. A topped-up gas tank also adds extra weight to your vehicle (helpful if you get stranded) and can help reduce moisture in your fuel system.
Practice Safe Driving
The best way to stay safe on the road is by practicing safe driving habits! Especially during winter, when snow and ice make driving conditions more irregular and unpredictable.
- Be gentle with braking pressure on icy roads
- Allow more distance between vehicles to allow for slides and sudden stops
- Avoid using cruise control in snowy conditions
- Keep your headlights on so other drivers can see you
- Slow down and keep at or below posted road speeds
- Avoid making sudden moves or lane changes that could cause you to spin out
Prepare Your Lexus For Winter With Us
Don’t let an Albertan winter catch you off-guard. Let our team of certified technicians help you get your Lexus ready for the cold!
Lexus South Pointe aims to deliver a car-buying and service experience like no other. Our technicians have experience with all makes and models and are proud to provide high-quality repairs and maintenance for all our Guests. Did you know you can experience our high-end amenities during your service appointment? Book a service appointment here.