The nights are getting darker and all you can think about is getting home from work, getting in your PJ’s and catching up on some trashy TV.But what if you get into your car, turn the engine and nothing ??? You instantly regret not renewing you AA breakdown cover, your dad is 400 miles away in France and your husband wouldn’t know the difference between a spark plug & a bath plug. So you end up waiting 2 hours to get towed to the nearest garage and face a £200 bill.Just think of all the shoes £200 could buy you in Primark !! All of this could have been avoided if you had prepared your car for the winter months. Here the Car Maintenance Specialists from Ossett Tyre House will give you the top 10 tips to keep your car on the road during Winter.
This is the number 1 reason why cars engines won’t run efficiently. Make sure to keep it check the oil level regularly, topped up and replace at least once a year.
Do this before setting off on a journey to make sure all the bulbs on the front & rear work.
At some point, we have all had a flat battery, either from leaving the lights on or lack of use of the car. Make sure to drive the car regularly and seek professional advice if your engine doesn’t start.
If the pads have worn away then no amount of windscreen ash is going to clear your windows.They cost only a few pounds to replace and can easily be fitted by yourself or the garage you buy them from.
With all the wind blowing muck, leaves & road grit about you need to make sure your washer fluid is kept topped up. It only takes a couple of minutes for your windscreen to go from clear to covered in grit & salt and without a good stock of washer fluid this could cause you major problems seeing where you are going.
Breaking down in winter can mean hours stuck out in the cold so pack an emergency kit with blankets, rations, water and waterproof shoes or wellies. If you have an in-car charger make sure to always fully charge your phone.
Clear out any rubbish and keep the inside of your car clean. Not only will this help prevent the spread of winter germs but also stop the waste of petrol with the excess weight.
Salt is your cars arch nemesis and by not regularly cleaning your car you are inviting rush and scratches to more ap on its service.
Wet weather, snow & ice can be a test for even the best of tyres so if you know you are going to be doing a lot of driving during the Winter months than consider having snow tyres fitted. The legal minimum tread for any tyre is 3mm’s.
Typically they need replacing after 30,000 miles but you can refer to your owners manual to check your model. A quick and easy job to change any old ones.
I hope these tips will help your car keep running throughout the winter months. Most of these Maintenance Tips can be easy done by you but remember if in doubt call in the professionals.