British people are not great at dealing with the winter weather, particularly when it comes to how it affects the roads. However, there’s no reason that the snow and ice have to be a major inconvenience if you know how to handle it and prepare your car adequately.
By simply performing a few car maintenance checks in the lead up to and throughout the winter you will not only reduce the risk of an accident but you’ll keep your car in general working order so you won’t need to sacrifice your working or social life just because ‘it’s a little nippy out’.
Windscreen care
Windscreen care is particularly important in the winter months as it’s not uncommon for windscreens to crack or freeze, both of which can be avoided easily and with little monetary outlay. First, you should check there are no chips or cracks as more often than not these can lead to larger cracks, which will result in a windscreen that needs replacing.
You should also make sure that when you’re clearing ice or snow from your windscreen you should take care to use a scraper specifically designed for the job in hand, not just a spare credit card or CD. Finally make sure you’re always stocked up on anti-freeze and that you don’t use boiling water to clear your windscreen as this will almost certainly lead to cracks. It’s also important to make sure that your windscreen wiper blades are functional and that there is an adequate amount of washer fluid in your windscreen reservoirs.
Under the bonnet
It’s usually wise to check under the bonnet first, ensuring that you have changed your car’s oil recently, particularly if it’s between services. Your oil will get thicker in the winter and thicker oil won’t be as effective, so take extra care when choosing the right viscosity as although your engine won’t crack like your windscreen, it can fail, leaving you stranded in the snow.
You should also check both your cars battery connections and water levels and if the batter is rather old it might be a good idea to start looking into a replacement for the winter months, as older batteries can’t hold a charge as well and the last thing you want to be doing is looking for a jump start in the midst of a blizzard! Make sure your car’s toolbox is up to snuff too if you hope to make it out of a bad situation without calling in the AA. SGS Engineering is particularly suited for your needs here and offers everything from impact wrenches to hydraulic jacks.
Everything else
It might not be absolutely necessary to change your car’s tyres, especially if you live in a heavily populated area where there are grit trucks in operation. If you live ‘out in the sticks’ though it might be wise to consider changing your conventional tyres to ‘snow tyres’, which have been properly inflated to provide the best possible traction for winter conditions.
Finally, remember to fill your radiator with a roughly 50/50 mixture of anti-freeze and water. This will keep the internal mechanisms of your vehicle safe from the cold hands of jack frost and will also help take care of windscreen visibility, the lack of which is one of the biggest killers in winter weather.
Remember to stay safe out there on the roads and only take absolutely necessary trips. Also, breakdown cover is recommended at the best of times but in these conditions, it’s absolutely vital! If you keep this guide in the back of your mind though and take the right precautions, there’s no reason you’ll need to use it and no reason you should let the snow slow your social or working life.