Winter car maintenance
Making sure your car is in tip-top condition is an all-round job for every driver. However, in these harsh winter months, extra care needs to be taken. Not to mention the specific ‘cold weather’ check that need to be carried out.
Start by adding anti-freeze to your radiator. Engine coolant can crack radiators, if it is left to freeze, which will land you with costly repair bills. However, before buying, you should consult your handbook and see which product you should use.
Keep your windscreen washer reservoir full with appropriate screen wash liquid. You may want to think about one which contains anti-freeze additives. You should make sure that you examine the wiper blades, front and rear, and if they are found to be worn, replace them.
Cold starts and the increased use of the headlights and demisters place masses of strain on your car battery. If your car is resistant to start in the morning, you may want to consider replacing your battery. Make sure the battery’s contact terminals are free from dirt and dust. You could also grease them to prevent charge leakage.
It is extremely important to check your tyres. Low tread or unevenly worn tyres are dangerous, especially when there is snow and ice on the roads. A depth of around 3mm is recommended for icy weather – nearly double the 1.6mm required by law.
It’s especially important that you continue to regularly check all of the normal things, too. Make sure that fluid levels, lights and tyre pressures are correct through the winter and if you find that something is wrong, you should alter it/fix it before setting off.
Finally, you should make sure that your car is fully working before the winter months; it might be worth even getting it checked over by a mechanic, just to be sure.
Snow covered car
Picture courtesy of AMagill
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