Ten Top Tips to Prepare Your Car for Winter!

Driving in the winter can be a chore, but we at B&M Worx have a few handy hints to help you and your car to get through the cold months without stress.

1. Check and clean all lights; front, back and sides!

   If you don’t have anyone to help you check your lights, just park up somewhere with a glass front when it gets dark. Don’t forget both full beam and dipped beam, and your fog lights. Changing bulbs can be a bit complicated in some cars, so if you’re not sure then just give us a call.

2. Check your Battery

   The cold weather puts a strain on your car’s battery, so you want to make sure it’s working at 100% before winter hits, and you end up stuck at work with a car that won’t start. Most garages and auto stores will do a check for cheap, or even free

3. Check your Coolant

   Your coolant needs to be a 50/50 mix of water and antifreeze. If it gets over-diluted by just topping up with water throughout the year it can freeze, even causing engine overheating. That is not something you want to have to pay to fix!

4. Check Tyre Condition

   Legally, you need at least 1.6mm of tread, but we recommend a minimum of 3mm to ensure they last the winter. Tyre pressure can be checked and changed at most petrol stations, or you can buy your own in-car tyre inflators. You can find the recommended pressures in your handbook, or the information sticker in your door shut. Your tyres are your cars entire contact with the road (unless something is very wrong…!) and affect steering and braking massively. As braking distances can get up to 8 times farther in icy conditions, you want to look after them.

5. Clean and Check your Windscreen, Wipers, and Washer Fluid

   Run a finger down the blades of your wipers to feel for nicks and splits. Replace them if needed, or wipe with a damp cloth and leave stood up to dry if they’re just a bit dirty. Test your washer fluid and top it up of needed. Is the spray powerful enough, are there any blockages? Make sure to use a more concentrated mixture to avoid it freezing in the cold, and to ensure it can take on gritter salt! Check your windscreen for damage, and get chips repaired as they can grow and crack in the cold weather. If you have a crack, even if it’s not impairing your view yet, call a professional! Clean your windscreen thoroughly and use a rain repellent (available at most auto stores) to help keep it free from streaks and stains.

6. Buy a Car Cover

   Don’t want to de-ice in the mornings? Invest in a car cover, or even just a windscreen cover. You can even use an old sheet held down by shutting it in your car doors! Putting your wipers on top of the sheet will stop them getting damaged by freezing to the glass, too.

7. Make sure your Emergency Breakdown Box is up to date

   Before it starts getting too dark and cold, check out our blog post on the essential things to have in your car in case of a breakdown or accident. Tuck this box in the corner of you boot, and you’ll grateful it’s there when the time comes!

8. Check your Breakdown Cover

   No-one wants to be stuck in the cold longer than they have to be. Check your policy, and make sure you have your membership details in your car, along with their contact number – and make sure you always bring your phone!

9. Be Prepared to Clear your Windscreen

   Invest in warm gloves, a good-quality scraper, and plenty of de-icer; It will help your mornings to no end! If you’re shorter than your car then get a long-handled scraper to clear your roof on snowy days. No matter how clear your windscreen is, leaving snow on your roof is dangerous and if a chunk flies off and damages another car, you could be liable. Test your in-car heating; do all the fans facing your windows work? Demisting your windscreen fully before you start driving is a must!

10. Get a professional service

    If this all seems a bit daunting, just book in with us for a winter service check, so you can rest assured that everything has been done right!