Winter is around the corner, and as you tackle the withered leaves in your garden, you might have already experienced the sight of the first layer of frost on the pavement or on your car’s windscreen and bonnet. Most motorists agree that driving during winters is a complicated affair. The icy roads, freezing temperatures, salted streets and foggy weather calls for your car to be in excellent driving conditions so that you keep accidental hazards at bay. Therefore, it pays to be prepared. While you gear up to usher the chill, here are a few winter car tips you can check out to keep your car’s smooth rolling during the coming season.
- Battery
Your car battery can become more painful to operate in cold weather than during the summer months. You could consider conducting a volt test on your battery before the onset of winter to ensure that it will remain in a good working condition. If the results are not great, you might want to look into buying a new car battery so that you no longer have to worry about being stranded in the middle of the road on a cold winter evening just because your car won’t start.
- Car tyres
One of the most important winter car tips is to secure your vehicle with winter tyres during the cold season. Winter tyres can help provide traction when there is snow on the roads and remaining more flexible at lower temperatures.
Tyres tend to drop their pressure in cold and driving with tyres exhibiting low pressure could mean more wear and tear and consequently more hazards. Be on constant lookout and ensure that you duly fill your tyres at a petrol station air pump the moment you experience inflated tyres.
- Antifreeze
Your antifreeze is extremely important to your car as it prevents your car engine from freezing during the winter season. One of the most effective winter car tips is to keep your antifreeze topped up and there are no leaks in the engine of your vehicle which could spill the antifreeze. If you have bought your car recently then you can be rest assured as most of the new cars can last up to 150000 miles or five years.
Many experienced mechanics thus suggest that instead of only antifreeze, you fill the engine with a 50-50 antifreeze water ratio.