Prevent your Car from Biting the Dust in Winter

Winter is when cars most often produce those unexpected problems, but with a careful bit of preparation you can prevent your vehicle from biting the dust at the coldest time of the year. That especially applies if your motor is a little older and not in its mechanical prime, although all cars regardless of their condition should be prepared for winter.

Before the cold and wet arrives make sure you do some simple maintenance, or if you are unsure about how to do that take your vehicle to a garage and ask them to perform the following:

• Change your antifreeze at least every two years. In winter the ideal coolant mix is 50% anti-freeze to 50% of water. Antifreeze costs very little but a new engine costs considerably more; preventing freezing will reduce the possibility of a cracked engine block and the need for expensive replacement.
• Check the tread on all your tyres. The legal minimum is 1.6mm although in winter the AA recommends a tread of at least 3mm for sufficient grip in wet weather. The lower the tread, the longer the stopping distance required when wet, so ideally tyres should be replaced well before getting to the absolute minimum, especially if that is just before winter.
• Ensure that your windscreen wipers are capable of doing the job as clear vision is important, especially in inclement weather. Check your blades for wear and tear, and if necessary replace them.
• As well as being able to see, being seen is equally important so check all your bulbs; side lights, headlights, break lights, tail lights and indicators and replace any that do not work.

Although, cheaper insurance won’t make your vehicle more reliable it will free up some cash to prepare it better for winter. So, when your car insurance is due for renewal, ensure to do your very best to receive a cheap car insurance quote, as every little bit of saving can help. Even a ?5 per month saving amounts to ?60 over a year — easily enough cash to buy anti-freeze, a couple of wiper rubbers and help significantly towards the cost of new tyres.

Furthermore, once the cold sets in, car heaters are turned on and the shorter winter days arrive, this means there is more need for lights to be turned on; all drawing valuable power from the battery. In constant rush hour traffic when waiting duration is long and speed is restricted, those extra electrical demands all place an extra heavy burden on your car battery.

According to the AA, car batteries rarely last longer than five years, so if yours is beyond that age you may wish to consider replacing it or if you expect to regularly sit in traffic on short journeys at least consider overnight recharging. Remember, if your engine won’t turn over immediately leave it at least 30 seconds between attempts or that too will quickly deaden the battery.

And, following these few tips should help you car falling victim to some of the more obvious pitfalls through winter.
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Adam Singleton writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.