How To Prepare A Car For Winter

According to statistics, almost twice as many cars remain on the road in autumn and winter as in spring and summer. According to breakdown statistics, a weak battery often prevents the car from starting. Cold and dirt also create discs, locks, and seals. The market gives tips on how to prepare your car for Winter.

Wind up winter tires

The rule of thumb is “from O to O”, So from October to Easter winter tires are recommended. Anyone who pulls on older tires should check the tread depth: at least 1.6 millimeters are required by law.

Check Small Motor Spark Plugs

The electrodes on a spark plug must be clean and sharp to produce the strong spark needed for ignition. One of the best manufacturers on the market is Motorcraft, you should find some comparison and choose the best Motorcraft spark plug for your engine. Don’t think about economy while you need to prepare your car for wintertime.

Car battery test

The car battery should be checked for its performance in good time before Winter. As car accessories, there are small and cheap battery testers. However, they do not always provide reliable information about the condition of the battery. More accurate – but significantly more expensive-are professional test equipment. It is best to have the battery checked in a workshop.

Check radiator frost protection

Antifreeze contained in the cooling water prevents ICE from forming and protects the engine from rust and lime deposits. The frost protection in the cooling should be just under minus 30 degrees Celsius. Then the engine is sufficiently protected. With an antifreeze tester (from about five euros), the condition of the cooling water can be easily controlled. Who wants to refill cooling water, should look in the documents, which means it is suitable for the engine. If the cooler loses Liquid, be sure to go to the workshop.

Cleaning discs

In autumn and Winter, windows quickly get dirty. For thorough cleaning, there are means, which according to the manufacturer are specially developed for the dirt on car windows. In general, however, conventional glass cleaner is sufficient. Tip: first remove the coarse dirt with a lot of water from the panes, otherwise the friction during cleaning can cause small scratches in the glass.

Check windscreen wiper system

In the water system for the windscreen wipers, frost protection of minus 20 degrees Celsius is sufficient. The agent contained in the wiping water protects against ICE and has a cleansing function. Also, check and clean the wiper blades.

Door seals lubricate

The door rubbers can easily freeze in winter and thus take damage. They are well protected with special rubber care or with Glycerin from the pharmacy. These agents ensure a smooth surface. Vaseline is controversial as cold protection: it contains mineral oil that can attack the door seals.

Door locks protect

The door locks can be protected from freezing with graphite spray. In contrast to oil, graphite does not become viscous when cold and does not become resinous when aging and cold. The de-icer is best kept in the jacket pocket. In the glove compartment, it uses little when the locks are frozen. When washing cars in Winter, seal the door locks with tape so that no water gets in.

Paint protects

In order to strengthen the car paint for the stresses of winter, it is advisable to maintain the car with car wax. Salt and Split on the car paint are not removed with a sponge, the dirt could scratch the paint. Cleaning with a high-pressure cleaner is better. If swirled sprinkle has struck small holes in the paint, you should remove the paint scratches quickly.

Cleaning the interior

Vehicle maintenance in Winter also includes a view of the interior. Damp floor mats ensure that the windows quickly fog up. Rubber mats from which the meltwater of the shoes can be poured are useful. Wet textile mats should be allowed to dry overnight in the Garage.