10 commandments of the driver before winter

The winter season is approaching, which means that weather and road conditions are getting worse. Experts have compiled 10 commandments that will help drivers in a trouble-free "transition" of this period.

The winter season is approaching, which means that weather and road conditions are getting worse. Experts have compiled 10 commandments that will help drivers in a trouble-free "transition" of this period.

In addition to the traditional car diagnostics related to checking the suspension, brake system, steering, lighting, etc. – those systems, the functioning of which we check regardless of the season, before winter, you should also take care of those parts of the car that are especially susceptible to negative temperatures. Part of winterizing your car can be done on your own, but some tasks require a visit to the garage. The cost of car maintenance before winter does not have to be very high, even if we decide to rent it from one of the authorized service stations. Most ASOs offer seasonal vehicle inspections at promotional prices, which usually range from PLN 50 to PLN 100.

I changed tires

Fewer drivers are trying to "drive" the winter on summer tires. Winter tires guarantee significantly better road grip and twice the braking distance compared to summer tires, which significantly increases driving safety. Due to the high cost of buying new winter tires, many drivers often prefer to buy used tires. However, with such a purchase, you should first of all pay attention to the tread depth of the tires you want to buy. – For summer tires, the minimum tread depth is approximately 1,6 mm. However, when it comes to winter tires, this figure is much higher - I do not recommend using winter tires with a tread depth of less than 4 mm, says Sebastian Ugrynowicz, manager of a Nissan authorized service center and Suzuki car club in Poznań.

II Check battery

If you are driving an older vehicle and it has been some time since the last battery change, check its condition before winter. - A good battery will be useless if, for example, the generator in our car is faulty, i.e. component responsible for charging the battery. By ordering an authorized service station to check your car before winter, we will check not only the performance of the battery, but also the performance of the car's electrics. Only when we are sure that the electrical system of our car is in good condition can we avoid unpleasant surprises on a winter morning, says Andrzej Strzelczyk, director of the authorized Volvo Auto Bruno service center from Szczecin.

III. Take care of the cooling system

In autumn and winter, the glycol content, which is the main component of radiator fluids, should be about 50 percent of the fluid used in the system. Otherwise, there is a risk that the liquid will freeze and damage parts of the cooling system and engine. It should also be remembered that the liquid contains a wide range of additives. – Any radiator fluid is a mixture of glycol and water, which in itself causes internal corrosion of the drive unit. Therefore, it is necessary to use fluids with an extended set of additives, incl. corrosion inhibitors, antioxidants and anti-foam additives that reduce the effect of fluid foaming,” says Waldemar Mlotkowski, MaxMaster Brand Specialist.

IV Check filter and fill with winter fuel.

If you drive a diesel car, you must be especially sensitive to the fuel you use in winter. Paraffin crystals precipitated from diesel fuel can clog the fuel filter at low temperatures, which is one of the most common causes of winter diesel starting problems. If we do not have time to use summer fuel before frosts, then a depressant should be added to the tank - a drug that reduces the pour point of diesel fuel. Before winter, it is also recommended to replace the fuel filter. – In the case of modern engines, you should also pay attention to the oils that we use. I recommend using oils recommended by the manufacturer and fuels containing as little biocomponents and sulfur as possible, advises Andrzej Strzelczyk.

V Wash windows - from the inside

The tires have been changed, the car starts without problems... but nothing is visible. – To prevent excessive evaporation, the first thing to do is wash the inside of the windshield of our car, and also replace the cabin filter in our car. It is recommended to change filters every 30 thousand. kilometers or according to the schedule of the car's service book, - says Sebastian Ugrynovych.

VI Use only winter windshield washer fluid.

As a rule, the temperature in winter in Poland fluctuates within a few degrees. Celsius below the line. However, there are exceptions and we are forced to ride even in 20-degree frost. When choosing a windshield washer fluid, you need to pay attention to the crystallization temperature and buy one that will not freeze even at very unfavorable temperatures. When preparing a car for the winter season, it is also worth paying attention to the technology for the production of windshield washers. Currently, the so-called nanotechnology is widely used. It is based on the use of silicon particles that penetrate deep into the structure of the glass or car body being cleaned. It is the nanoparticles that create an invisible multi-layer coating that greatly enhances the effect of repelling water, dust and other dirt particles from the glass.

VII Replace wipers in autumn.

As for the functionality of the wipers themselves, no matter if they are standard or flat wipers, they are used throughout the season. - The summer period, when the rains occasionally take us by surprise, is most detrimental to rugs. Then we use them mainly for scraping off the remnants of insects, operating on dry glass, and this significantly spoils the edge of the rubber. Therefore, in order to properly prepare for the autumn-winter season, it is recommended to change the mats to “fresh” ones right now,” explains Marek Skrzypczyk from MaxMaster. In winter, we must not forget to reduce the effects of ice buildup on the mats as effectively as possible. In this case, an effective "saving" procedure for the brushes is to move the wipers away from the windshield at night.

VIII Lubricate seals and locks

The rubber seals in the doors and tailgate are recommended to be covered with a special care product, such as a petroleum-based product, to prevent them from freezing. Locks can be smeared with graphite, and a lock defroster instead of the glove compartment of a car at home or at your place, which we take to work.

IX Preserve the tray

Before winter, the car body should be covered with appropriate pastes, wax or other means that should protect the paintwork of the body from the damaging effects of salts. - I recommend using the preparations offered in salons and authorized service stations. These products are tested on car bodies of this brand under the most severe conditions, so they provide the best protection, says Andrzej Strzelczyk. In addition to using appropriate cosmetics, you should also remember to regularly wash the car and wash off the remains of slush and salt - not only from the body, but also from the chassis of the vehicle.

X Do not wash the car in severe frost

The main mistake, however, is washing the car in severe frost, i.e. at temperatures below -10 degrees Celsius. This is not only unpleasant, but also dangerous for the car body. Low temperatures make it impossible to thoroughly dry parts, and water entering small cracks in our car can slowly destroy it from the inside. Therefore, we must make sure that we dry the car thoroughly after washing. A reasonable procedure would also be the use of drugs with a package of special additives. In difficult weather conditions, it is worth considering buying a shampoo containing wax.