But every car is different, so check your owner’s handbook for the recommended service schedule. Like many of these tips, vehicle servicing is important all year round, but winter conditional makes it that bit more important.Ī service is usually recommended every 12,000 miles or every 12 months, whichever comes sooner. Coolant should be changed every 2-5 years, depending on the car and the type of coolant required. Top up your antifreezeĪnother important step to get your car ready for winter – the antifreeze.Īntifreeze stops the water in the engine's cooling system from freezing, so make sure yours is topped up. You may need to wash your windscreen more often in the winter as wet, muddy or salty roads increase the amount of spray hitting your windscreen.ĭon’t miss: Is it illegal to leave my engine running in cold weather? 8. However, don’t pull the wiper blades off frozen glass or turn them on if your windscreen is iced over, as the rubber may tear. You can give them a wipe with a clean cloth now and then. Check wiper blades and windscreen washīefore driving in winter, check your wipers are in good condition, with no tears or holes, and that they can clean your windscreen properly. If you drive on rural or uneven roads, you may want to invest in some snow chains/socks or winter tyres. Don’t forget to check you have a roadworthy spare in your vehicle too. Worn tyres are dangerous at any time, but especially when driving in winter as safe stopping distances significantly increase in icy, snowy or wet conditions.īy law, tyres need a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm, but experts recommend you change your tyres at 3mm to maintain safe stopping distances. If you’re taking your car out after a few days left unused in the cold, set off gently in case the discs, callipers or handbrake have frozen up. Get them checked if they squeal, make other noises or generate unusual sensations. Your brakes need to be in tip-top condition, especially in winter. Check your brakesĪnother essential for your winter car maintenance, is your brakes. You could face a fine if your vehicle reg is unreadable.Ĭheck this out: How to stay safe driving on icy roads 5. And while you’re wiping, don’t forget your number plate. If your car doesn’t have headlamp washers, you can wipe them over with a cloth. You can lose an estimated 40% of luminosity in about 20 miles on a damp, gritted motorway, according to road safety charity IAM RoadSmart.Ī good clean is an important part of your winter car maintenance. Keep your lights and number plate cleanĬars can get dirty in the winter months, not least because of all the salt on the icy roads. But remember, too much oil can be dangerous too. Get your car ready for winter by checking the oil level when your car is fully warmed up as a cold car will look low on oil. In fact, RAC patrols report that 1 in 3 vehicles they attend are running dangerously low on oil. Your vehicle oil level should be between the minimum and maximum mark on the dipstick, or you risk engine damage and breakdown. How well do you know the warning lights in your vehicle? Test your knowledge with our warning light quiz. And, if an alert appears on your dashboard, get it checked out as soon as possible. You can find this info in your vehicle’s manual. So before winter closes in, take some time to understand what your car’s warning lights mean. Don’t ignore dashboard warning lightsĪ surprising number of people don't know what the warning lights on their dashboard mean. the red battery light takes longer than usual to go out after you’ve started the engineĪs a rule of thumb, try to change your car battery every three years, or sooner if it’s causing you problems in the cold weather.the red battery light on your dashboard flickers when you’re driving.the engine turning over more slowly than usual when you start.Warning signs of battery failure include: The risk of battery failure is greater in cold, wet and icy weather. A flat or faulty battery is the number one cause of vehicle breakdowns, according to both the RAC and Green Flag. Top of our winter car maintenance checklist is your battery. If your car isn’t ready for wintry conditions, make alternative travel plans Make sure you always have enough screen wash in your car, as not only is it dangerous to have an empty screen washer bottle, it’s illegal too. Use our winter car maintenance checklist to keep yourself safe in ice and snow. But with a bit of planning, you can make sure your car is ready for winter. Wintry conditions can catch you by surprise and create extra dangers on the roads.
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