NG16 February/March 2022

Winter Car Maintenance:
Top Tips To Prepare For The Cold Weather
by Helen Say
Breakdowns and accidents are more common in
the winter when road conditions are challenging.
But with a bit of planning, you can ensure your car
is ready for the winter weather. Here are our top
essential car maintenance tips that anyone can
follow.
1. Check your oil levels and keep an eye on your
fuel gauge
According to the RAC, one in three roadside
breakdowns involve cars that are dangerously low
on oil. When the car is fully warmed up, take out
the dipstick and check that the oil level is between
the minimum and maximum marks, and top up if
necessary. Being stranded with an empty tank in
freezing conditions is no picnic, so keep plenty of
fuel in the tank and don’t try to eek out the last few
miles when the warning light comes on.
2. Keep your lights clean
Snow, rain, ice and salt can play havoc with your car
and can make your lights dangerously grimy. You
can lose an estimated 40% of luminosity in about
20 miles on a damp, gritted motorway, so keep your
lights clean by rubbing over them with a cloth or – if
you have them fitted – use the headlamp washers.
Wipe down your number plate too - you could
face a fine if you drive around with an unreadable
registration plate.
3. Check your tyres, battery and brakes
Stopping distances increase in icy, snowy or wet
conditions so don’t drive around on worn tyres.
Tyres need a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm by law,
but experts recommend you change tyres at 3mm
to maintain safe stopping distances. Don’t forget
to check you have a roadworthy spare too. The
risk of battery failure is greater in cold, wet and icy
weather, so aim to change your car’s battery every
three years if possible, or sooner if it’s causing you
problems in the cold weather. Your brakes need
to be in tip-top condition, especially in winter, so if
they squeal, make other noises or generate unusual
sensations, get them checked.
4. Check your wiper blades and top up on
windscreen wash
Check your wipers are in good condition, with no
tears or holes, and can clean your windscreen
properly. You can give them a wipe with a clean cloth
every now and then to remove any trapped grit or
leaves. But if your windscreen is frozen don’t pull the
wiper blades off frozen glass or turn them on as the
rubber may tear. Check the levels in your windscreen
washer. During winter you’ll be using a lot of washer
fluid and not only is it dangerous to have an empty
washer bottle, it’s illegal too.
5. Carry the right gear
Ensure you keep the following items in your car,
especially if you’re planning a long journey and/
or you live in a rural or countryside community: an
ice scraper and de-icer, a warning triangle, warm
clothing and a blanket, rug or sleeping bag, practical
footwear like wellies, a torch and spare batteries,
a mobile phone and charger, a shovel (in snowy
conditions).
About the Author: Helen Say is a freelance
copywriter and blogger www.cblservices.co.uk
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