Do I need to "winterize" my car?

Hey Zahntech --

Why do people make verbs out of nouns, like "winterize"? And do I need to "winterize" my car, and if so, what does that entail?

--Gettin' cold

Hey Cold -

I have no idea why people make nouns out of verbs, but I can tell you that "to winterize" is code for "to take advantage of uninformed consumers," at least when applied to cars.

What's especially funny (to me, at least) is that the Department of Transportation here in Washington actually says you should "winterize" your car. Specifically:

"While you should keep your vehicle in top operating condition all year round - for safety and fuel economy - it is especially important to get it winterized to avoid dangerous situations while traveling in fridge weather. "

Their web site then says:

Read your Owner's Manual and check the following:
battery and lights
antifreeze
defroster and heater
belts, hoses and filters
motor oil
tire pressure
wiper blades and windshield washer fluid
brakes and brake fluid

Uh....no. These are things that should be checked during every maintenance service, and most of them get checked every oil change. If you perform the scheduled maintenance services your owner's manual recommends, plus get your oil changed regularly, you're good to go for the winter.

Here in the Northwest, we sometimes use studded tires in the winter; the DOT allows them November 1 through March 31.

Happy motoring!