The weather is turning, the air turns colder, the sky darker and the roads wetter. Winter is coming and the earlier you can get your vehicle prepared the safer you can be. Even if the snows and ice don’t come there are still things to take care of. Things such as:
The fluids
In colder months liquids have a tendency to freeze or thicken; this is no good for the internals of your vehicle. Liquids to work on include:
- Changing the oil should be done more frequently in winter. The colder temperature causes the oil to thicken, which won’t lubricate your engine as effectively
- Antifreeze, engines need cooling and they use water radiators to do this. Antifreeze is of course necessary. The average amount when making a mix is 50/50 however always checks the bottles to make sure. If the water freezes it can expand and cause parts to crack or break, building up a big bill.
- Wiper fluid, it’s simple to keep this from freezing, as a rule the more fluid to water, the less likely it will freeze.
- Fuel, this is less about the fuel itself but more how much you have in the tank. Keeping it half-full will add weight, allowing your vehicle to plant itself better on the floor.
Electronics in cold weather
Electronics can be hugely affected by changes in temperature. This is mainly because you’ll be using them more often. More heat, more lights, even more wipers. Flat batteries are so common a reason for recovery call-outs. Here’s some ways to avoid this situation:
- Turn it all off. This is simple and you probably do it anyways but after you reach your destination turn it off to save charge. However the cold weather can also make the batteries lose charge faster which is why you should also:
- Keep it running. If you don’t use your vehicle that often starting it up and having the engine run for a little bit will allow the parts and electronics to hold up better than if it just stood still.
- Charge or replace it. If you haven’t used the battery for a while in cold weather it may still have lost charge, meaning it could do with charging. However, if the battery is struggling and more than five years old it’s time to get a new one.
The other stuff
Here are some more general items to look for to keep your vehicle in good condition during the upcoming cold months:
- As things get wetter there’s more mud and loose grit around that can be kicked up into the lenses of your lights and on the windshield. Before headed out make sure that they are clean and fully working. Visibility will be harder to come by as things get colder so make sure you’re prepared.
- Check your windshield. Many things can happen to the glass as things get colder. It can frost over or even ice over. If this is to happen what you should never do is add hot water, the rapid change in temperature can cause the glass to crack. Also, your wipers can have ice form on them, which can scratch. For this, clean them with vinegar which doesn’t freeze as easy.
- Have the proper kit for emergencies. Should the worst happen having blankets and warm clothes in the vehicle will help. Other things that can help include a shovel to dig you out of mud or snow, a torch in case it’s dark and a de-icer to scrape ice off of the windows.
Winter is a difficult time, with these tips you can keep motoring along fine, whether you’re driving on a commute or doing commercial works transporting goods around the country. If you need something moved in these coming months, DeliveryQuoteCompare.com will get you in touch with the most dedicated courier companies around.