subject: How to look after your vehicle in winter [print this page] How to look after your vehicle in winter How to look after your vehicle in winter
Whether it's your personal or company car or a large lorry, there are a number of steps you may want to take to protect it (and you) from the elements. Here are 10 tips for winter driving.
1. Your first step should be to monitor your oil, brake fluid and water levels on a regular basis.
2. Due to the icy roads that you may encounter, it's vital that you check your tyres for both tread and pressure. The legal minimum tread is 1.6mm.
3. Anti-freeze plays an important role in vehicle maintenance, including protecting the water in the radiator against freezing. Make sure you check your levels regularly and top it up when needed.
4. You'll also want to stop your windscreen washer fluid to avoid freezing, so applying a little anti-freeze should help.
5. Batteries are one of the biggest causes of non-starting vehicles during cold months, so make sure you check yours over the winter months. Keeping jump-leads in your car may also prove very useful.
6. For your own safety, it's always a good idea to keep a blanket or extra warm clothing in your vehicle during winter. That way, if the worst should happen and you do break down, you won't be too cold.
7. Use a garage, where possible, to store your car overnight. If your car is left exposed to the frost and snow over winter, you may have a difficult job getting it started in a morning.
8. Again, for your own peace of mind and safety, consider breakdown cover as an important safety net in the event of a breakdown.
9. Keep de-icer in your vehicle to avoid having to scrap ice away from your windscreen if leaving your car in cold temperatures for too long.
10. If temperatures plummet dramatically or you intend to drive in an extremely cold country, you may need to use diesel additives - such as cold flow improvers - to stop the fuel from turning into waxy crystal formations and damaging the engine.
If you think cold flow improvers could benefit your business, or want to know more about other diesel additives, it could be time to find out before the winter sets in.
