Winter on Way...

   Some of us hate winter, some of us like it, but one things for sure, your car doesn’t. Especially if you haven’t prepared your car for the low temperatures and wet weather.

   One of the essentials when preparing your car is to check the antifreeze (coolant). Antifreeze stops corrosion and protects against the cold. Antifreeze weakens with age, and may freeze in the cold weather. This could seriously damage your engine so get it checked! Wards Garage always check the strength of your antifreeze when we service it. We recommend having it changed regardless of the strength every two years.

   Probably the most common source of car trouble in winter is the battery. Your battery can discharge in low temperatures and cause starting problems. Get your battery checked. Refer to your Haynes manual for details of how to check a battery. It’ll also be worth while cleaning the lead connections and making sure they’re on tight.

   You will need to use your window wipers a lot more in winter so make sure yours are in good condition. New wiper blades aren’t expensive so it’s worth renewing them at the start of every winter if your current ones look a bit worn. Also, if you find your windscreen has frozen up; do not turn on your wipers. The wiper rubbers will probably be frozen to the screen and when moved may cause the rubbers to tear off.

   Tyres play a vital role when driving (obviously), so check the tread on them. The legal requirement for tread on tyres is 1.6mm, although in winter we do recommend having at least 3mm’s tread. Get your tyres checked, and think carefully about replacing if you have less than 3mm tread.

   Check your oil. Remove the engine dipstick, wipe the stick with a clean rag, replace it and check again. The level should fall between the minimum and maximum marks. If necessary, remove the oil-filler cap and top up. Wards Garage always replace your oil with every service.

   If heavy snow is forecast, make sure you have a spade, wellies, a blanket and a torch with spare batteries in case you get stuck. If you are going to be making a long journey, especially at night, take a flask of your favourite hot drink and high-energy food such as chocolate.

The best way to prepare for the winter is to book your car in for a winter service.