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Preparing your car for the winter

It’s that time of year again! The weather may not yet have thrown its worst at us, but as the last year has shown with the “Beast from the East” followed by an unprecedented long, hot summer, we need to be prepared for anything!

At the start of the autumn this means getting your car ready for winter driving.

The checklist includes making sure it has an annual service. Many of the problems caused by the cold can be prevented if you do this.

Battery: the average life of a battery is about five years, and the battery comes under additional strain not only from the cold weather but from heavier use of lights, heater and blower.

Tyres: a good tread is essential for efficient braking and steering, so they need to be at the correct pressure as well as having sufficient depth of tread.

Antifreeze: engine coolant should be a 50/50 mix of water and antifreeze and this can easily become diluted if you have topped up the system with water over the year. Don’t forget the screen wash – a good quality 50% mix of screen wash will reduce the chance of freezing when it is particularly icy.

Windscreen and wipers: give the windscreen a thorough clean both inside and out. Any smears can cause visibility problems when light shines on them.  Wipers will get heavier use during the winter so make sure the wiper blades are in good condition with no nicks and tears.

Lights: these, too, need to be cleaned.

Underseal: when the roads are gritted in icy conditions many don’t realise that the grit contains salt. This can cause damage to the car’s bodywork, so you should also check for scratches and dents in the paintwork to ensure it is not vulnerable to damp getting through to the metal and setting up the conditions for rust to develop.

If you are driving in the winter the advice is to carry a winter emergency breakdown kit with you. This should contain a shovel, blanket, warm coat, torch and for long journeys a hot drink in a flask and a fully topped-up mobile phone.

If you want to avoid all the winter check hassle, you can always rent a vehicle from us. While we can’t supply a personalised winter breakdown kit we do make sure that all our vehicles have been properly checked and prepared for winter driving.

Preparing your car for the winter

Winter-Driving

Preparing your car for the winter

It’s that time of year again! The weather may not yet have thrown its worst at us, but as the last year has shown with the “Beast from the East” followed by an unprecedented long, hot summer, we need to be prepared for anything!

At the start of the autumn this means getting your car ready for winter driving.

The checklist includes making sure it has an annual service. Many of the problems caused by the cold can be prevented if you do this.

Battery: the average life of a battery is about five years, and the battery comes under additional strain not only from the cold weather but from heavier use of lights, heater and blower.

Tyres: a good tread is essential for efficient braking and steering, so they need to be at the correct pressure as well as having sufficient depth of tread.

Antifreeze: engine coolant should be a 50/50 mix of water and antifreeze and this can easily become diluted if you have topped up the system with water over the year. Don’t forget the screen wash – a good quality 50% mix of screen wash will reduce the chance of freezing when it is particularly icy.

Windscreen and wipers: give the windscreen a thorough clean both inside and out. Any smears can cause visibility problems when light shines on them.  Wipers will get heavier use during the winter so make sure the wiper blades are in good condition with no nicks and tears.

Lights: these, too, need to be cleaned.

Underseal: when the roads are gritted in icy conditions many don’t realise that the grit contains salt. This can cause damage to the car’s bodywork, so you should also check for scratches and dents in the paintwork to ensure it is not vulnerable to damp getting through to the metal and setting up the conditions for rust to develop.

If you are driving in the winter the advice is to carry a winter emergency breakdown kit with you. This should contain a shovel, blanket, warm coat, torch and for long journeys a hot drink in a flask and a fully topped-up mobile phone.

If you want to avoid all the winter check hassle, you can always rent a vehicle from us. While we can’t supply a personalised winter breakdown kit we do make sure that all our vehicles have been properly checked and prepared for winter driving.

Are you ready for winter driving conditions?

Winter-driving-conditions

Are you ready for winter driving conditions?

We have been pretty lucky for the last few winters, which have been fairly mild with little or no snow, at least in East Anglia.

This means that many of us will have little experience of driving in really wintry conditions, so we have a few tips for you.

Using chains or special winter tyres is rare in this country as they are generally not needed, but there are still hazards drivers need to be aware of and know how to handle.

The main winter hazards are high winds, driving rain, fog and sometimes snow.

Driving in rain and fog

In both cases, the road surface is likely to be more slippery and visibility will become more difficult so the first piece of advice is to drive slowly, steady and smoothly.

Remember, if there has been a dry spell, oil deposits on the roads may increase the risk of skids and, in rain, tyres losing grip so that the vehicle aquaplanes.

You should also ensure that you leave extra room between your car and the vehicle ahead, particularly on motorways.  In treacherous conditions, where visibility is reduced by spray, it is better to decelerate rather than use your brakes.

If you are renting a vehicle for a long-distance drive in such conditions, you may need to use windscreen wipers and the screen washer to clear the windscreen more frequently, so make sure the water is regularly topped up.

Another tip for driving in fog is to use dipped headlights rather than main beam, which can make it harder to see ahead.

Winter emergency kit

A blanket, drinking water, warm coat and a torch, plus a shovel in case of snow drifts should be part of the emergency kit if you get stuck somewhere, and make sure to keep your mobile phone topped up.

Headlights

The Highway Code’s Rule 226 states that you must use your headlights if visibility is seriously reduced. A good rule of thumb is that this is generally when you cannot see for more than 100 metres (328 feet).

Also, if the car is fitted with rear or front fog lights and you have used them in fog, you must switch them off once you are clear of the fog.

Driving in wintry conditions is really about using common sense and adjusting your driving, not taking risks.