The leaves are falling, the skies are blackening; there’s no use denying it any longer, winter is well on its way.
Winter; beautiful but hazardous for driving
With the colder weather comes the joy of icy roads, frosty mornings and bucket loads of rain; all of which can play havoc with your cars health, and conditions out on the open road.
Autumn is a great time to take a close look at your car and make sure its winter ready. Have a read of our handy winter car care check list so that you can keep your car in tip-top condition over the long cold winter…
Winter can be tough on cars…
CDG’s top winter car care tips:
Check the oil level
Make sure that the level of oil in the engine is healthy; if the oil runs low it can cause untold damage to your engine so get that dipstick out.
Check the tread on your tyres
Tyre tread is all-important when driving on wintry roads
Low tyre tread means less grip on slippery roads, it’s also illegal, so make sure you have a look at all the tyres on your car, including the spare. Inspect the tread, but also take a look at the condition of them. If you see cracks and tears then a new set of wheels is in order.
…and don’t forget the tyre pressure
To optimise your driving for wintry conditions make sure that the tyres are at the correct pressure, and once again, don’t forget to take a look at your spare
Get the leaves out of your scuttle!
The scuttle is the recess between your windscreen and bonnet; if leaves clog this up they can rot and filter through to the engine causing lasting damage, so make sure you give this a regular clean and get the leafy offenders out of there.
Give your car a thorough clean
Nothing gets your car gleaming in time for winter like a good scrub, pay close attention to headlights and rear lights as dirt can easily render these ineffective if it builds up. Make sure that you apply a good coat of wax, this will help protect your paintwork from the perils of winter, like salt ridden roads and rotting leaves.
Check your lighting
Take a look at all light inside and outside the car; check your brake lights, side lights and head lights to make sure they are functioning correctly, replacing any bulbs that have gone. Interior lights are also important as the nights draw in so check to make sure these are functioning too.
Fill your windscreen wash
Muddy and dirt ridden roads can leave you squinting through your windscreen; make sure you top up the screen wash to save your sight. Use screen wash with anti-freeze to help you out on those frosty mornings.
Keep de-icer and a scraper to hand
Pop them in the glove box or a side pocket and you will be so thankful when you rock up to your car one frosty morning to find it covered in ice.
Inspect your windscreen wipers for damage
Replace torn or faulty looking blades as these can make driving hazardous if you are caught in a sudden downpour.
Get together an emergency car kit
Being stuck in a snow drift or down an icy road could be hellish if you don’t pack a few essentials. Make sure you have drinking water, jump cables, a high visibility jacket, a torch, a blanket and a well-stocked first aid kit to hand.
For the ultimate in winter ready, why not book your car into Crawley Down Group for a free winter safety check!
We will check your vehicle’s:
- Tread depth
- Tyre pressures
- Tyre wear
- Brake condition
- Heating system
- Anti-freeze level