What kind of maintenance does your car need to survive the winter? Get ahead of the curve and take your car to the garage before the worst of the bad weather hits so you can be prepared for harder conditions on the road.
Take a look at our winter maintenance checklist and make sure your car is ready for colder months.
Change your tyres
Winter tyres will keep you safer on the roads than summer tyres during the colder months of the year. It’s knowing when to change from summer to winter tyres, though, that has the most impact on your road safety. Swap your tyres over before the worst of the bad weather hits, sometime in mid-October to early November.
Why switch at all? Winter tyres have a different structure and tread pattern, meaning that they’ll be able to grip the road better than your summer tyres will, e.g. when driving in the rain or other adverse conditions.
Check your tyre pressure
As the weather gets colder, the air molecules in your tyres will start to shrink. On average, you’ll lose a pound of pressure for every ten degrees the temperature drops. Driving on underinflated tyres not only bad for your car’s hardware, but it will lower your overall mileage. Be sure to check your tyre pressure on a weekly basis.
You can always add a bit of pressure to make up for what you lost, but be sure to let some air out if the weather’s going to warm up again. The last thing you want is for your perfect winter tyres to over-expand during a burst of warm weather.
Above all, make sure you know the recommended pressure for your tyres - you can usually find the information on the door sill or fuel cap. Bear in mind the temperature changes though and keep your winter tyres inflated accordingly.
Keep petrol in the tank
You’ll want to keep at least half a tank of petrol in your car when the winter months settle in. The presence of the petrol will keep the finer parts of your car in shape. If you happen to slide off of the road, that petrol will go a long way while you wait for help.
Wax your car while the weather’s warm
Come winter, local governments will salt the roads to keep ice from disrupting traffic. Combine that salt with the ever-present slush and dirt that collects on the road and you’ll find that the underbody of your car gets dirty fast.
If you want to keep grime out of your car’s more delicate areas, consider waxing your undercarriage, wheel wells and general exterior while the weather is still warm. The wax will not only make your car shine, but it will protect it from the natural debris that’s part and parcel of winter in the UK.
Raise your windshield wipers
If you keep your car outdoors during the winter months, you’re going to need to put in work to keep your windshield wipers safe. Raise your windshield wipers before you go into work and when you come home for the day. This way, your wipers won’t freeze to your windshield, and you won’t have to worry about the expense of replacing them.
Check on your battery
If you keep your engine off but your battery on in an attempt to stay warm during the winter, you may put your battery at risk. Before the colder months arrive, check the fluid levels in your battery.
You can either remove the caps at home or take your car to a garage for professional servicing. So long as your fluid levels are balanced and your battery is charged, you should be able to make it through the winter months without needing a replacement.
Keep your windows clear
It’s tempting to take to the roads with foggy or icy windshields, especially if you’re in a hurry. You shouldn’t put yourself or others at risk just to make it to work on time though. Take time in the morning to clear off your windshield. You can do so with the help of the heat in your car or with a hand pick. Do not use your windshield wipers to try and remove ice from your windshield. You’ll damage the new blades if you do.
Above all else, don’t try to use hot water on your windshield when it’s frozen over. The sharp contrast between the hot and the cold will trigger an over-quick expansion of the glass particles. Your windshield will likely crack, and then you’ll have a new and costly problem on your hands.
Test your heat and A/C
Finally, be sure to test the heat in your car before winter sets in. Not only will the heat help you defrost your windshield in the early mornings, but it will keep you safe if you slide off the road.
Why, though, do you need your A/C for in winter? Running the air conditioner will reduce the amount of humidity in your car, ensuring that your interior windows remain free of fog. If you can’t get your windows to clear with heat, switch over to your A/C so you can keep your eyes on the road.
Winter driving doesn’t have to be stressful. Get your maintenance done while the weather is still nice, and you’ll be able to navigate the roads more easily.