Published · 2 min read
Winter check: six points before the cold sets in
Battery, antifreeze, screenwash, wipers, lights, tyres and seals: what we check in autumn and what you can do yourself.
The first frosty morning is the day weak batteries give up. Check a few things in autumn and you go into winter with fewer surprises.
1. Battery
Cold slows down the chemical reaction in the battery, while the engine needs more current for a cold start. A battery that only just coped in summer will leave you stranded in winter. The warning sign: the engine turns over sluggishly when you start it. We measure voltage and starting power with a battery tester.
2. Antifreeze in the coolant
The coolant has to stay liquid even at low temperatures. We measure the antifreeze with a refractometer and recommend protection down to at least −25 °C for our region. Only top up with the coolant the manufacturer specifies: not every type mixes with every other.
3. Screenwash
Water on its own freezes in the reservoir and the jets. Fill up with screenwash containing antifreeze well before the first frost.
4. Wiper blades
If the wipers smear or judder, the rubber has hardened. New wiper blades take a few minutes to fit and make a real difference in sleet.
5. Lights
In winter you drive in the dark more often. Check all the lights and keep the headlights clean: salt and dirt swallow a lot of light.
6. Tyres and seals
Winter tyres with enough tread: more on that in the post about changing tyres. Treat the rubber door seals with a care stick so they do not freeze shut. And the lock de-icer belongs in your jacket pocket, not in the glovebox.
For the boot
- an ice scraper and a hand brush
- gloves and a blanket
- for trips into the mountains: snow chains you have fitted once before as a trial