It’s that time of year again, (ugh) where the weather can be stacked against you and your car, here are some tips from CTEK on winter car care. Stay ahead of the game and hopefully prevent a disaster to deal with in lousy weather on the side of the road.
Tires
The tread and pressure of your tires is the most important check you can undertake at any time of the year, but we rely on our tires even more when the road surface is slippery. Pressures can decrease in cold weather, so you should inspect them regularly and ensure you fill them to the correct levels. Contact your local tyre workshop and ask if you are unsure about how to do this properly. In the UK, a tyre’s tread depth must be at least 1.6 millimetres across the whole central section, but most manufacturers advise 3 mm.
Batteries
It’s not just people who get caught out by wintery conditions, vehicle batteries do too because low temperatures put additional strain on power sources. Visually inspect your battery it and wipe any dirt away from the contact terminals, check the charge state and, only if required, charge it to maximum capacity. Make sure the battery is holding its charge by testing again a week later or use a smart charger, such as the CTEK MXS 5.0 12V battery charger, which features a diagnostic function that displays whether a battery can receive and retain a charge.
Radiators
In the event of a truly cold snap, radiators and even engine blocks will crack as the engine coolant freezes. To avoid an expensive repair, keep your radiator topped up with a 50/50 mix of water and anti-freeze. If you’re worried about the percentage of anti-freeze currently in the system, buy a testing kit or ask your mechanic to check for you. Alternatively, flush the radiator out, especially if it’s not been cleaned in a while.
Windscreens
Top up your window washer reservoir with a mix of screen wash, which, again, prevents the liquid freezing solid and potentially causing damage. Also, inspect your windscreen wipers and test their efficacy using a watering can to replicate heavy rain. It’s likely you will be using your wipers much more over the next few months. With the extra grime and grit that ends up on roads during times of snowfall you should keep your blades in top shape so you can always see clearly and drive safely.
For more information about CTEK’s range of vehicle battery maintenance, testing and charging products, visit www.ctek.com.