Getting ready for winter...
Ok, so we missed out on the sizzling ‘barbecue summer’, but the latter summer months have been pretty nice, and if you close your eyes and feel the sun on your face then maybe you can pretend that it’s June again... No matter how hard we cling on though, autumn is coming and the thermometer will take its seasonal plunge soon.
Aside from making sure that your central heating works, and that you know where your slippers are, now is also the time to make sure that your car is ready for the winter months.
With previous research by Green Flag showing a 15% rise in callouts over the colder months (and January 2nd being the biggest day for breakdowns), it’s worth getting your car serviced and ensuring that you’re as safe as you can be on the roads this winter. Avoiding a winter breakdown will also save you money in the long run...
As well as getting the experts to check your vehicle, there are a few things that you can do to make your winter driving experience easier:
If your windows are misting up, put the air-con on as well as the heater: this helps to dry the air and clear your windows.
Check your screen-wash levels; you can buy small sachets at garages if it needs topping up. If you bring your car in for a service then we will make sure it’s topped up at the correct concentrate. Platinum members get free tops ups all year round!
On icy days be more careful around the shade caused by trees and high buildings. Shaded parts of the road will not defrost as quickly (if at all). Be aware of this.
It may be a cliché... but you should always have warm clothes in your car, a torch, and a fully charged mobile: if the worst does happen and you get stuck out in the cold it’ll be the best cliché you’ve ever followed!
Wash your car regularly. Salt and other debris that you find on the road are highly corrosive to your vehicle’s bodywork – keep your car clean and ensure that debris doesn’t build up around the wheel arches and other vulnerable parts of your car’s bodywork. Give your lights a good clean.
Although the legal requirement for tyre treads is only 1.6mm, in the winter months it is a good idea to have considerably more than this: wetter and colder conditions require more grip. Consider contacting IN’n’OUT for a service, or for new tyres.
Car batteries can have a hard time over the winter months. Cold mornings – when your battery is less efficient – and short journeys take their toll. Try to give your car a good run at least once a fortnight. If you can’t do this then ‘trickle-charge’ your battery to keep it in prime condition.
Whatever happens, remember that your car needs more care over the winter. Like us, cars generally prefer the warmer and drier months. Hopefully though, by following a few of our tips and ensuring that your car is frequently serviced, the long grind through to the sight of that first spring daffodil will be just that little bit easier...!