How To Prepare Nissan Altima for Winter?

By Nick Marchenko, PhD

Updated: July 12, 2023

As we find ourselves face-to-face with the icy expanse of winter, our garb transitions from light and airy to something that might be confused with a Yeti, all in the name of fending off the chilly winds. For those who find themselves in possession of a Nissan Altima, this change also includes preparing their automotive companion for the frosty hurdles that lie ahead.

Winterizing a Nissan Altima is a straightforward task, really, but it does call for a certain commitment and a willingness to persevere.

It's undeniably wiser to winterize your vehicle ahead of the curve than to find yourself wrestling with a surprise problem sans the requisite tools or expertise.

Nissan Altima Pre-Winter Checklist

Winter's whims can be treacherous and unanticipated. Snowy, ice-glazed roads coupled with bone-chilling temperatures require motorists to exercise a heightened degree of caution - and the Nissan Altima needs to be sufficiently prepared to bravely meet any wintry challenge head-on.

Tyres 

Just as one wouldn't dream of donning flip-flops for a stroll in a snowstorm, our cars too require the correct "footwear" or tyres to maintain apt traction on snow-dusted surfaces. When the mercury dips to around +7 Celsius (+44 Fahrenheit), it's highly advised to make the shift from your summer tyres to winter-appropriate ones.

Give your winter tyres a thorough once-over - tread depth, rubber condition, and air pressure, to ensure they're primed for the task. Cold weather tends to be rather unkind to tyre pressure, deflating them more rapidly than usual. Here's a handy rule of thumb: a 10-degree dip equates to a 1 PSI decrease.

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The sage advice here is to switch your Nissan Altima tyres sooner rather than later. You certainly don't fancy the prospect of twiddling your thumbs in a queue, waiting your turn. It saves time and a lot of gnashing of teeth, believe me.

Brakes

Beyond ensuring solid winter traction and acceleration, attention must also be paid to your stopping prowess, which becomes even more crucial on surfaces more akin to a skating rink. Do take a moment to inspect your Nissan Altima brake pads and rotors to verify they are in shipshape and can deliver peak braking performance.

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Battery

The winter chill can have a rather significant effect on the health of your Nissan Altima's battery. Should the temperature take a deep dive into the negatives, around -30 degrees, your battery's usual energy could take a hit, dropping by 30% or even more.

This power might not quite make the cut to kickstart your Altima. If you find yourself not using your Nissan Altima regularly during winter, let's say less frequently than every other day, you may discover your battery has, for all intents and purposes, run out of juice. This might necessitate a bit of neighbourly assistance or a trip home to recharge.

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Oils

Before winter decides to stop by for a visit, it's crucial to renew the Nissan Altima's oil and oil filter. The oil's role is to ensure smooth operation of the engine's metal components, protecting them from any untoward wear and tear. The oil's viscosity - its thickness, if you will - significantly affects the engine's performance.

If the oil is too gloopy, it's akin to wading through treacle for the engine parts, which could potentially result in an overheated engine.

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As the winter temperatures start to drop, the oil correspondingly thickens. This issue, however, can be readily managed by opting for oil with a lower viscosity (low viscosity index oil) specifically blended for the rigors of winter.

Coolant

As winter knocks on our doors, it's time to swap your usual coolant for an antifreeze solution. Antifreeze doesn't just provide a warm blanket for your Nissan Altima's engine in frosty conditions, it also puts a stop to any component corrosion. 

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Maintaining a proper level of antifreeze is paramount. A 50:50 blend hits the spot and stops the fluid from freezing up even when temperatures plunge below zero (-40 degrees).

If the antifreeze level is lacking, the coolant might turn into a popsicle, which could potentially lead to an overheated engine and an unwanted visit to your mechanic for gasket replacements.

Consumables

Before you brave the frost-laden roads, make sure to give the spark plugs, wires, cables, belts, and hoses a thorough once-over. Don't shy away from propping open the bonnet and scrutinising everything in detail. If there's something amiss, it gives you the opportunity to nip it in the bud promptly.

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Taking a proactive approach to potential issues now is a far better course of action than meeting them face-to-face on a road blanketed with snow.

Fuel Level

Riding on fumes can spell disaster for your Nissan Altima at any time of the year, as it leaves you at the mercy of finding a fuel station before your motor sputters to a stop. This situation becomes decidedly more dicey during winter.

The cold air and its perpetual fluctuation can lead to condensation on the walls of a half-empty fuel tank, which can rapidly transform into a less than desirable situation of water mixing with your fuel.

Now, since water is denser than petrol or diesel, it will settle down at the bottom, and here's where the plot thickens: if water makes its way into the fuel line, it can freeze up, blocking the path of the fuel to the engine and effectively ruining your day. Fixing such a fiasco can be rather harsh on the wallet.

Therefore, even if fuel prices do decide to play hopscotch every now and then, keeping your tank filled to the brim serves as a good line of defence for your vehicle and, in the long run, a relief for your bank account.

Wiper Blades and Washer Fluid

Given that visibility in the face of the relentless winter onslaught can be a rather fickle affair, it's pivotal that your Nissan Altima's wipers are on the ball.

Picture this: you're negotiating the road under the cover of darkness when an unexpected squall of snow and rain descends upon your windscreen. You engage the wipers hoping for a clear view, only to end up with a smeared screen courtesy of the worn-out rubber blades.

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Considering that wiper blades are made of rubber, they're prone to become brittle and degrade over time. It's sensible to give your wiper blades a fresh start every half year or so.

While you're at it, don't forget to check your Nissan Altima's windscreen washer fluid level - it's your first line of defence in dislodging stubborn snow and ice from your windscreen. Swap out the run-of-the-mill fluid for a winter-ready solution. You can pick one up from any petrol station.

Emergency Kit

The road can be a cornucopia of unpredictability, especially when winter decides to join the party. However, you can give yourself a head start by being prepared for the most curveballs.

A shrewd move would be to have a bespoke emergency kit stashed in your Nissan Altima. Ensure your kit is well-stocked with the following:

• Jump leads;
• First aid paraphernalia;
• Window scraper and brush;
• Pocket-sized shovel;
• Warm garb;
• Compact torch and batteries;
• Extra coolant or antifreeze;
• Car door lock de-icer;
• Silicone grease for seals;

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Tying It All Together

As we've discovered, prepping your car for winter isn't quite akin to splitting the atom. Sure, it takes a spot of your time and the addition of some vital cargo in your boot, but it's far preferable to be kitted out for every winter eventuality than to find yourself marooned in the middle of nowhere without a snowball's chance in hell of a solution.