5 ways to prepare your car for winter

5 ways to prepare your car for winter - Title Sussex Magazine www.titlesussex.co.uk

Whilst winter in the UK is far from the blizzards received in some parts of Northern Europe, more snow is forecast, along with spells of low temperatures.

It’s never too late to start. Here are 5 things you should to do to prepare your car for the winter

Check the battery

The battery is one of the biggest priorities when it comes to your car. Not only can you not start your car with a flat battery, but they are costly to replace. The cold temperature can reduce the output of the battery, along with increasing the need for energy for things such as lights and heaters.

So, if your car is having any issues – this is the first place to look.

Cleaning your rims

Many of us take pride in our cars but seem to give up during the winter months because there are more mud, rain, and dirt around. Not to mention the grit and sand on roads, which can ruin your rims. So, cleaning alloy rims is something you want to do regularly during winter, which doesn’t take all that long – you can even use leftover oven cleaner or washing up liquid.

Antifreeze the engine coolant

Engine coolant is important to maintain the engine. It is a recipe made up of a 50:50 ratio of antifreeze and water. Over time, it will become diluted, so it’s important to top up the antifreeze every now and then – not to top up with just water, which is common.

Without enough antifreeze, the water will freeze over during the winter meaning the engine may then overheat.

Assess your tyres

Checking your tyres for tread depth and pressure is important no matter what time of the year it is, but it’s all the more important in winter. Icy roads mean that grip is even more necessary, so make sure you have a minimum of 3mm tread depth over the winter months, which is double the legal minimum (the legal minimum is 1.6mm).

Furthermore, consider changing into winter tyres for the winter if you’re expecting significant snow and ice.

Winter breakdown kit

A roadside emergency kit is always handy, but in the winter it’s essential. You don’t want to be broken down for long in minus 0C temperature – and this kit will include hi-viz vests, screen wash, torch, blanket, shovel, snow grips, starter cables, and so on.

It may also be wise to have a fully charged mobile phone and bottled water, which of course do not come in such emergency kits.

Bonus tip – get your car serviced

If your car is due a service, it’s definitely worth booking one in. If you were planning to prepare your car for winter ahead of the cold weather, or you’ve been caught out, it’s never too late. The cold certainly does cause a lot of issues for cars, but many of them could be prevented with a proper service and maintenance check.

Finally, there are plenty of promotions going around this time of year for “winter car checks” – so it makes sense to make use of them. This can put your mind at rest, and take preemptive measures to prevent unnecessary damage.

 

Enjoy this article? Don’t get fat, get fit this winter!