Winter motoring requires special care and a little preparation if you are to avoid breakdowns or accidents. Useful tips are listed below.
Anti-freeze
Check the anti-freeze strength and try to change the coolant and anti-freeze every two years at least.
- Use a good quality glycol-based anti-freeze. A 50-50 mix of anti-freeze and water in the cooling system is needed in winter. This gives maximum protection down to -35°C, and without it, severe engine damage costing hundreds of pounds can occur.
- If the fan belt squeals continually as soon as the engine is started, that's a sign the water pump is frozen and that the cylinder block is too. Stop the engine immediately and allow the engine to thaw out. This may take several days unless you can get the car moved to a heated garage.
- Most commonly, it is just the radiator that freezes. The car will begin to overheat within a few miles of home, as the coolant is unable to circulate. Stop the car immediately and allow the radiator to thaw.
- Anti-freeze only costs a few pounds. A cracked engine block will result in repairs running into hundreds of pounds.
Checking a car's engine following snow
Battery/Electrics
Lights, heaters and windscreen wipers put high demands on the car battery. Driven mainly in dark rush-hour trips, batteries give out eventually. Dead batteries top many breakdown services call-out lists, accounting for about one in five winter breakdowns each year.
Batteries rarely last longer than five years, so replacing them near the end of their life can save a lot of time and inconvenience when they finally fizzle out. (Remember - note down any radio or alarm codes, as they may have to be reset).
- Modern batteries are maintenance free, but there's no harm in checking that the top of the battery is clean and the connections are tight.
- Also check that the alternator and fan belt are in good condition.
- Avoid running car electrics any longer than necessary - turn the heater fan down and switch the heated rear window off once windows are clear.
- If the car stands idle most of the weekend a regular overnight trickle charge is a good idea to give the battery a chance to revive.
- When you're starting up the car ensure that non-essentials, like lights, rear screen heater and wipers are turned off.
- Use the starter in short five-second bursts if the engine doesn't start quickly, leaving thirty seconds between attempts to allow the battery to recover.
Checking a tyre for tread depth
Tyres
- Check all tyres for condition, pressure and tread depth. At least 3mm of tread is recommended for winter motoring.
- Don't reduce tyre pressures to get more grip.
- Check you have a jack and wheel brace, that they work and that you know how to change a wheel if necessary.
- It's rare to need snow chains unless you live in an isolated area hit with heavy snow and where the roads are not cleared. They must be removed to drive on a metalled road without a reasonable covering of snow.
- Buy snow chains from a specialist and ensure they're the right size for the vehicle. They can be awkward to fit, so practise fitting and removing them in good conditions.
- Unless you live in an isolated area regularly dumped on with heavy snowfalls and the roads aren't cleared, you are unlikely to need snow chains. If you do need them but aren't used to the driving conditions, the best advice is to avoid travelling until the weather improves.
Keys
- When people become stressed and flustered, they're more likely to make slips and errors, such as missing a turning or locking keys in the car.
