Winter in the northern hemisphere can be very cold, wet, icy, and snowy, and while a white Christmas is magical for some, it can be a headache for others to Look After Your Car.
Extreme weather conditions such as ice and snow can disrupt our daily lives – it can make traveling to work treacherous or leave us chilled to the bone and banished to our sick beds with flu. We can look after ourselves by dressing warmly, keeping our house well heated and eating healthily. However, our cars need some help to ensure they stay in tip-top condition. Here are 7 ways to look after your car over winter.
Insure It
Insuring your car can ensure you are covered financially should the worst happen and you are involved in a car accident. During the winter months, accidents are more frequent due to roads being slippery with rain and ice. If you want to avoid huge bills from your mechanic, find the best car insurance companies in your local area or online and take out a policy.
Keep it Covered
You can protect your car from the elements by keeping it in a garage. If you don’t have a garage, buy a car cover. These fabric covers will stop snow and ice from settling on your car, as well as protect it from being scratched by debris, animals, vegetation, and birds. On very sunny days, a cover can prevent the UV rays from the sun from fading the car’s paintwork.
Feed it Some Fluids
It is essential that you add antifreeze to your car’s coolant system when the temperature outside starts to fall. If the fluids in the car freeze, significant damage can be done to the engine, electrics, and other systems within the car, and it will stop running. Antifreeze solution should be diluted 50:50 with water.
Give it a Check-Up
Before the winter weather kicks in, you should take your car for a service. During a service, the mechanic will change the oil, replace fluids such as brake fluid and windscreen wash, replace air and oil filters, and check the brakes, among other things. A quality service will ensure that your car is safe and ready to be driven over the winter period.
Keep it Full
When the weather is cold and damp, the fuel tank in your car may be susceptible to moisture which can cause rust and lead to a clogged fuel filter. Keeping the tank filled over winter will reduce the amount of oxygen-filled space and prevent moisture from building up.
Look After its Battery
Without the electrical spark from the battery, a car won’t run. The battery in your vehicle must be in good shape and fully charged. If not, you should replace it so that you reduce the risk of being stranded in the middle of nowhere on a snowy night with a flat battery.
Check its Tires
The law states that the depth of the treads on your vehicle’s tires should be at least 1.6mm. In winter, it makes sense to replace your usual tires with winter ones that have a tread of 3mm depth and grip the road when it is icy and snowy.
Keep safe this winter, and always make the safety of your car a priority.
