Is your car winter-ready? Top tips for winter-proofing your vehicle
Our tips and tricks for winter car maintenance
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Winter weather can be a real pain for you and your car. Colder temperatures bring new challenges that can put you at risk on the roads if not considered, and can cause unnecessary wear and tear to your vehicle.
It’s important to keep on top of car maintenance at the best of times, but even more so when tackling wind, snow, ice and rain – or whatever Mother Nature decides to throw at us that day.
Here are our top tips for preparing your car to keep you safe on the roads this winter.
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Check your car battery
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Your car’s 12V battery can lose as much as 35% of its strength when temperatures hit zero degrees or lower. When it’s freezing outside, it’s harder for the battery to create power and keep you moving.
When is it time to replace your car's battery?
Signs that a battery needs replacing include when your car struggles to start (or doesn’t start at all) and underpowered electrics (such as dim headlights or weak heaters).
If your engine smells like rotten eggs, it could be a potentially dangerous problem with the battery, so make sure to get it checked out as soon as possible.
This is a job you can do yourself, but if you'd prefer a trained professional to handle it (and sometimes batteries can be hard to locate), one of our trusty technicians can help you out at your next cinch service.
Clean out those leaves
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No, we're not talking about the Nissan LEAF – those can stay. Instead, we're talking about autumn's falling leaves, which may not look harmful, but absolutely can be.
Leaves stuck under the bonnet will break down over time and can block up your car’s drains. If this happens, you could end up with water getting into your car’s interior.
And, with all those carpeted surfaces, water in your car can be a nightmare – especially during winter when it takes longer to dry. It can lead to mould, bad smells, foggy windows and more issues you could do without.
They can also damage your car’s paintwork as they break down, so you’re best off getting rid of them all, even if it means delaying your post-work hot chocolate by a couple of minutes.
Keep your windows and wiper blades clean
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With the rain, snow, and low sun that winter often brings, it can be hard to maintain good visibility on the roads.
The Highway Code highlights the importance of having good visibility, stating you must be able to see properly out of your windows at all times. A dirty windscreen could land you with a fine of up to £1,000. Not something worth gambling.
Before you head off, use the air-con to demist your windscreen and reduce condensation. You can use a de-icer on your windows if they’re icy and use a window scraper to speed up the process.
Never pour boiling or hot water onto your windows, as the sudden temperature change can cause the glass to crack. A heated windscreen is great in this case, as you can expect the ice to start melting straight away.
Likewise, if you're lucky enough to have an app for your car on your phone that offers this feature, then preheating the cabin before you head off means you can wait in a warm house until it's ready. This is typically offered on certain Teslas, BMWs, Volvos, etc.
When you’re cleaning the windows, make sure you inspect your wiper blades and check that they can clear your view, along with the washer fluid. If they're dirty or worn, they can leave streaky marks on the windows, obstructing your view.
Monitor your tyre pressures
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Tyres are important for driving safety – they’re the only contact patch your car has to the road, so you need to make sure they’re in good nick.
The law says you need to have at least 1.6mm of tread across the middle three-quarters of each tyre. You can quickly check this by inserting a 20p coin into the tyre’s tread grooves – you’ll be within the limit if you can’t see the coin’s outer band.
It doesn’t hurt to err on the side of caution with tyres, though, especially in the winter. Aim for at least 3mm of tread depth if you can, and your tyres will perform better in icy conditions and be less likely to aquaplane.
Don’t forget to check your tyre pressures either. Cold temperatures can cause the air inside your tyres to contract, so they might be a bit lower this time of year.
It's best to check tyre pressures before you set off when the tyres are cold, then top them up to the recommended level (as specified in your car's manual).
A couple of last bonus tips are to check your tyres for cracks or bulges, as these can weaken them. Also, if your tyres are more than 10 years old, the rubber gets less sticky, so it could be time to swap them out.
Keep your fuel tank more than half full
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This isn’t a ploy to have you spend more on fuel – keeping your tank more than half full is a scientifically backed way to keep your car healthy.
When water vapour comes into contact with a hot surface, condensation occurs. If your fuel tank isn’t full in winter, this reaction can occur, diluting your fuel.
The build-up of water vapour and moisture can put some of your vehicle’s components under strain or even cause them to freeze.
It’s rare to experience freezing in your car, but keeping your tank well-stocked is a good way to keep your car's health in check.
How to de-ice your car properly
You know winter is here when the first annual windscreen de-icing event occurs. We've all been there.
It’s a pain, sure, but it’s so essential to de-ice and de-mist your windows for visibility and staying safe behind the wheel.
Not that we need any more motivation than that, but you could be landed with a fine if you drive with a dirty (or obstructed) windscreen.
Here’s how to de-ice your windscreen as quickly as possible:
1. Make sure your wipers are switched off
Wiper blades can sometimes freeze to the windscreen, so make sure they’re turned off before you turn on your car to avoid damage to the rubber, wiper motors, or windscreen.
2. Start your engine
Start your car and make sure your rear window heater and heated wing mirrors are on as well. If you’re lucky enough to have a heated windscreen, it’s time to switch that on.
3. Turn on the air-con
We know it sounds strange, but turning on the air-con will remove moisture from the air and stop the windows from misting up. You can still have the temperature set to warm, of course.
4. Clear all the snow
Use a soft brush to clear the snow from your car – not just the windscreen, but the lights, number plates, grilles, roof, etc.
5. Spray some de-icer
If you have it to hand, spray your windows and lights with de-icer to speed up the process. Never pour warm or boiling water on your icy windows, as it can damage the glass and cause cracks.
6. Scrape the ice
You can also use a proper ice scraper to remove some of the tougher ice on your windscreen (don’t use them on your paintwork). They’re designed not to scratch glass, so don’t just use any random plastic you have lying around, as it might do some damage.
Bonus tips to make de-icing your car easier:
Park your car in a garage if you have one
Cover your windscreen with a towel or fitted cover when it’s parked
Try to park your car pointing east so the morning sun starts melting the ice as soon as it rises
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How to stay safe while driving this winter
After putting in the prep, you’re nearly ready to hit the roads this winter.
But before you do, it’s worth brushing up on some helpful tips for staying safe on the roads when conditions get tough.
Speed and acceleration
Remember that speed limits are limits, not targets, and they’re set for driving in normal conditions. If the weather is bad and the roads are slippery, don’t be afraid to slow down to a more reasonable speed.
Standing water, ice and snow all increase braking distances, so going a bit slower will help make sure you come to a stop safely when you need to.
When you’re travelling on the slower side, you’ll also have more time to react to obstacles ahead, so it’s worth sticking to what you’re comfortable with.
Don’t forget that most people will be doing the same thing as you – sticking to a speed that’s safe for them.
Also, when setting off, try to do so smoothly and slowly. Too much acceleration in icy/snowy conditions can cause wheelspin, so take your time to set off safely.
Cornering
It’s a similar story with cornering during a cold snap – take things nice and slow and keep your movements smooth.
Keep both hands on the steering wheel to stay in control and turn in gently at a safe speed. Go into a corner too aggressively, and your car could lose traction.
Braking
Try to apply the brakes smoothly and progressively when driving, especially when there’s water, ice or snow on the roads.
A sudden increase in pressure can unsettle the tyres and cause you to lose control.
That’s what anti-lock braking systems (ABS) are there for – they help to control the pressure of the brakes to allow wheels to slow down gradually, rather than stop instantly and skid.
ABS is a helpful safety feature in modern cars, but learning to use your car’s brakes in a controlled way to avoid the system kicking in will keep you even safer.
A note about aquaplaning
Aquaplaning is when a layer of water gets between your tyres and the road, causing you to lose grip.
It can also lead to you losing control of your car because the brakes and steering no longer work properly.
Common causes of aquaplaning include accelerating during heavy rain and driving in the rain with low tyre tread or over- or under-inflated tyres.
Are you ready for winter driving?
It's the perfect time to start winter-proofing your car when the clocks have gone back and the long, dark nights are upon us.
Unlike many drivers, you’ll be ready to avoid getting caught out when severe weather rolls in this year by following the winter driving advice above.
Need more help?
If you've done all the above but still want to be 100% prepared, then we'd recommend booking a service for your car.
This way, our technicians can spot anything further you may need to change/prepare, as well as give your car the thorough service it deserves.