car before winter. What to check, where to look, what to replace?

Although the autumn weather is still favorable, the calendar is inexorable - winter is getting closer. Now is the best time for pilots to prepare for this season.

Autumn and winter are the worst time for drivers and their cars. Low temperatures, frequent rainfall and fast twilight do not favor the use of vehicles and the journey itself.

The first step in the autumn inspection of the car should be its thorough washing. This is best done in a touchless car wash so that the jet of water reaches all the nooks and crannies in the wheel arches and under the chassis. Car washing should be done before the first frost, so that the water does not freeze in the cracks of the car body or chassis.

The next step, but only when the car is dry, is to attach the door seals and window rails to remove moisture. We are also talking about frost protection so that the seals do not freeze to doors and windows. To care for rubber, silicone or glycerin preparations are used. But technical vaseline is best. By the way, let's drop a few drops of machine oil into the door locks so that they don't freeze too.

In autumn and winter, rainfall increases, and therefore windshield and rear window wipers also have something to do. Let's look at the condition of the wiper blades, but do not smear them with any preparations, because they will leave stains on the glass. If the blades are worn, they must be replaced.

Now it's time to take a look at the battery

- It is necessary to clean, first of all, the clamps are fixed with technical vaseline. If the battery voltage is too low, let's recharge it, advises Radosław Jaskulski, Skoda Auto Szkoła instructor. Problems with an undercharged battery may be a signal that we should inspect the entire charging system (including the voltage regulator) and evaluate if there is any current leakage caused by damage to the installation.

Vehicle users should also take care to save high voltage cables so as not to cause a short circuit in the electrical system. To do this, use a motor spray or contact cleaner. It would also be good to look at the fuse box, maybe there you also need to clean the fuse contacts.

If we have already raised the engine cover, then we should check the freezing temperature of the coolant in the expansion tank. This is achieved with the help of special meters available at many gas stations. This is important because if the freezing point of the coolant is too high, it can crystallize or even freeze during frost, which can damage the engine block. By the way, you need to top up the fluid level.

You should also check the washer fluid reservoir. If there is still a lot of tepid liquid, add 100-200 ml of denatured alcohol to it. This amount will not spoil the smell of the liquid, but will protect it from freezing. If there is not enough liquid, add winter preparation.

In short days, the importance of good lighting increases

Let's check the operation of all the lights. It depends not only on good road lighting, but also on the fact that our car is visible to other road users. If we have the impression that the headlights are not working properly or are not properly adjusted, let's set them up, emphasizes Radosław Jaskulski.

Although the air conditioner is rarely turned on in autumn and winter, this does not mean that you should not check how it works. Eliminating the problem of fogging windows depends on its effectiveness.

You also need to look under the chassis and protect it from water and salt in advance. It is also necessary to check the condition of the brakes.

– Make sure the pads are in good condition, check whether the braking forces are evenly distributed between the axles. Let's not forget that the brake fluid must be changed every two years - the instructor of the Skoda driving school has an allergy.

And finally, winter tires.

– Changing tires in autumn for winter ones is a necessity that, fortunately, most drivers know about. Winter tires provide more safety, allow shorter braking distances on ice and snow, and also provide better handling,” says Radosław Jaskulski.

According to the regulations, the minimum tread height of a tire must be 1,6 mm. This is the minimum value - however, in order for the tire to guarantee its full properties, the tread height must be min. 3-4 mm.