Five ways to winterproof your car
Winter is coming fast, and with it are a whole new set of driving challenges that we don’t see in the summer.
Rain, ice and snow all make up a big part of our New Zealand winters, so making sure your car is in the best shape possible to deal with all of these conditions is vital this time of year.
Today we look at the five basics you should check before winter really takes hold.
Remember though; these are the very basic things you should check (or have someone check, if you are not sure).
Check your fluid levels
While you need to make sure you have sufficient coffee on a cold morning, your car also needs its fluid levels topped up on a regular basis, and going into winter is a perfect time to check them.
Oil tends to thicken as it gets colder, and if it gets too thick it won’t be as effective at lubricating your engine, so checking it this time of year is vital.
Check your oil when the engine is cold (if you have just turned it off, then let it stand for at least 10 minutes), and if it is below the ‘‘add’’ line, then do what it says and add a good quality oil, preferably one recommended by your car’s manufacturer, to take it just over the line.
Oil turns black quickly, so don’t worry about that, but rub a small amount between your fingers and if it leaves a smudge, then you probably need an oil change. Likewise, if the oil is thick and sludgy, you are well overdue for a change.
The ratio of water to antifreeze you need in your radiator depends on your car, but generally between 30 and 50 per cent is suitable, depending on how cold it gets where you live. Water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius, but mixing 50 per cent antifreeze in with it drops that to -32C.
Antifreeze is also known as coolant, because it does the same thing at the other end of the scale, raising the water’s boiling point as well.
Also make sure to check your window washer fluid reservoir and make sure it isn’t just filled with plain water, as this can easily freeze.
Make sure you can see
Doing a quick visual check of your windscreen is important and possibly the easiest thing to check, after all you are staring through it every time you get in your car. Obviously any chips or cracks should be attended to right away.
Check your wiper arms for any defects and the state of your wiper blades. If you haven’t changed the blades for a while, then now is a good time.
Also, before the cold really hits, make sure your heater and rear window defroster are working properly, as you don’t want to find that one out too late.
Give your battery some love
Heading into winter is the perfect time to make sure your battery’s terminals and connectors are clean and free of corrosion, and that it has the proper electrolyte levels inside it.
Make sure the battery is clean (a thick mixture of baking soda and water is good for cleaning the battery, using an old toothbrush, making sure the battery is safely disconnected first) before you open the (usually) six round, or two rectangular covers on the top of the battery, as the electrolyte fluid should never be contaminated.
The electrolyte fluid should cover the cells and be the same level across all of them. If a cell is exposed, or its level is lower than the rest, then add distilled water until it covers the cells entirely.
If your battery is more than three years old or the car has difficulty starting, then you should get your mechanic to check its ability to hold a charge and replace it if necessary.
The round black things
Your tyres are the most important thing on your car in any weather, but even more so over the winter months.
The minimum legal tread depth in New Zealand is 1.5 millimetres across 85 per cent of the tyre’s width, but anything less than 3mm should start you thinking about new tyres.
The easiest way to check your tread is to use a 20 cent coin – the base of the number 20 is roughly 2mm from the edge of the coin, so if you can see the whole of the number, you need new tyres.
The air pressure in your tyres has almost certainly dropped as the weather has become colder, so it’s important to check your tyre pressures either with your own pressure gauge or at a service station’s air pump.
Your tyres need to be properly inflated to ensure the best possible traction as you drive, because traction is often severely compromised in wet, snowy or icy conditions, so you need every advantage you can get.
Belts and hoses
While your mechanic will check all your belts and hoses during your car’s regular service, a quick look over them at the start of winter is always a good idea, even if you have no idea what you are looking at.
Anything that looks loose or out of place should raise an alarm and anything that looks worn or frayed should be checked by a mechanic immediately.
Of course, any new or unusual noises you hear when the car is running should also be checked right away, but especially before the cold hits.