Prepare your car for winter

To avoid unpleasant surprises when our car refuses to obey during the first frosts, just a few simple steps are enough.

They will not take much time and will not cost much and will provide us not only driving comfort, but above all safety on slippery roads.

To properly prepare the car for the upcoming winter, we do not have to go to an expensive service station. Many actions can be performed by the driver himself. Experts agree that most of the winter problems that drivers face are the result of their mistakes and negligence when preparing a car for the season. These problems, at best, cause the car to freeze or break down, and at worst, they can even lead to a serious accident. Therefore, it is worth observing a few rules.   

More and more drivers are convinced of the benefits of winter tires and regularly change tires twice a year. There is no specific date when we should install winter tires. It is best to change them when the air temperature drops below 7 degrees Celsius. 

A workshop that changes tires should check the condition of the valves and suggest a possible replacement. These are elements that wear out sometimes only over time, which causes a slow loss of pressure in the tires.

When changing tires, make sure that the workshop does not forget to balance the wheels. Unbalance causes vibrations that are transmitted to the entire suspension, accelerating its wear.

Let's not forget about other elements of the car that can lead to loss of vehicle stability on slippery surfaces.

– Many drivers do not forget to check and maintain the brake system. They often become accustomed to reduced brake performance and ignore it. In addition, there is also an uneven distribution of braking force between the left and right side of the vehicle, which is difficult to notice in normal use. Meanwhile, in winter it can easily lead to skidding, warns Stanisław Nedzwiecki, owner of the oldest Peugeot website in Poland.

It is also worth checking the air pressure in the tires. It should be the same on the left and right sides, as differences can lead to skidding.

Lighting control is just as important. Check the operation of all headlights - front and rear lights and direction indicators. By the way, make sure that the glass and reflector mirror are clean. 

- It is worth paying attention to the front and rear lights and especially their reflectors. If they are damaged or corroded, replace them with new ones. Any damaged light bulbs also need to be replaced, advises Paweł Kovalak from the Nexford inspection point.

Some vehicles have headlight washers. If there are none, be sure to wipe the surface of the lamps with a soft, non-scratching cloth. It is also worth buying spare light bulbs and practice changing them in a warm garage.

In addition to the headlights, at the same time we will take care of the wipers and the windshield washer. If the first one leaves streaks, replace the blades as soon as possible. With the replacement of the fluid in the washer reservoir for the winter one, there is no need to wait for frost. It is also worth checking the headlight setting.

Even slight frosts can show us how important a battery can be. Check the tension of the V-belt, the condition of the battery and the charging voltage. Starting problems at temperatures below -20 degrees Celsius are common.

Before we decide to buy a new battery, let's check the old one. Maybe you just need to charge it. If the battery lasts four years, replace it with a new one. If we are using a working battery, it is worth checking the electrolyte level, as well as the quality and method of attaching the battery clamps and the ground clamp to the case.

Stock up on connecting cables. Thanks to them, you can "borrow" electricity from the battery of another car. When buying cables, pay attention to their length. It is good if they are 2–2,5 m long. They cost about 10–50 zł. Low temperatures are especially bad for the battery. Therefore, “electrically intensive” installations should be launched in winter only in difficult situations.

In most cars, the central locking is controlled by the alarm remote control, and sometimes when the temperature drops, the battery will drain when the door is opened. Therefore, before winter, it is necessary to replace this element in the alarm remote control, immobilizer or key.

  A very important measure to be carried out in the workshop is to check the freezing resistance of the liquid in the cooling system. Regardless of whether the cooler contains a solution prepared by diluting the concentrate with water or pouring liquid with a working concentration, it ages during operation.

– As a rule, in the third year of operation, it must be replaced with a new one. In the case of intensive use of the car, it is recommended to replace it every 120 kilometers, says Stanislav Nedzvetsky. – If water has been added to the liquid, its suitability should be checked before the first winter. Coolant that is excessively diluted with water can be replaced after the first year of operation. It’s better not to save on liquid, because when it freezes, it can seriously damage the engine, and besides, it is the liquid that protects the entire system from corrosion,” the expert adds.

With a working cooling system, there is no need to close the radiator. Problems can arise in older vehicles, where the warm-up time of the engine in winter is very long. Then you can cover the radiator, but no more than half, so that the fan can cool the liquid. Closing the entire radiator can cause the engine to overheat (for example, when parked in a traffic jam) even in cold weather. 

Rain, snow and mud do not serve the car's paintwork, and corrosion is much easier than usual. The layer of paint covering our car is damaged primarily by stones flying out from under the wheels of cars. Their blows create minor damage, which rusts quickly in winter. The paintwork is also damaged by sand and salt scattered along the road.

To protect against winter, both cheap car cosmetics and special anti-corrosion preparations sold in the form of aerosols or containers equipped with a special brush that facilitates the application of varnish are sufficient. After filling in lacquer defects, protect the case with wax or other preservative. And let's remember that preparing a car body for an ever-accelerating winter requires, first of all, a thorough car wash. Only then can the varnish be maintained.

Drivers often forget about the timely replacement of filters: the fuel one, which is responsible for removing water from gasoline, and the cabin one, which protects our car from the painful winter fogging of the windows.

Do not forget about the rubber seals in the doors and trunk. Lubricate them with a care product, talc or glycerin. This will prevent the seals from freezing. Zippers are best smeared with graphite, and the zipper defroster is put in the pocket of a coat or briefcase. And let's not forget about caring for the gas tank lock.

It is also worth taking care of the interior of the car. The first step should be to vacuum and remove all moisture. Velor mats for the winter are best replaced with rubber ones, from which snow and water are easily removed. Carpets should be cleaned frequently as evaporating water causes windows to fog up.