Prepare your vehicle for winter with FUCHS
Cold weather can take a huge toll on our vehicles. Not only are driving conditions far more hazardous with icy roads, reduced visibility and snow to contend with but the components that keep our vehicles running smoothly can be adversely affected.
This includes car batteries, spark plugs and tyres as well as the common issue of vehicle fluids becoming thicker during the winter months.
Overall, these factors are a large part of the reason for a significant rise in breakdowns occurring throughout winter, however, with the correct maintenance and preparation, you can mitigate these risks and ensure that your vehicle is at optimal performance.
Below, we have put together some crucial tips for preparing your vehicle for winter to ensure safety for both you and your car.
Being the primary point of contact with the road itself, your tyres play a vital role in ensuring your safety, even more so during winter.
To ensure reliability from your tyres, you should conduct regular checks.
This includes carefully monitoring -
- Tyre condition - Looking for any potential punctures, bulges and cracking.
- Tyre pressure - Cold weather can cause your tyre pressure to drop significantly. Ensure that your tyres are inflated to the manufacturer's recommended levels to maintain performance in icy weather.
- Tread depth - Worn tyres can be especially dangerous on winter roads. Regularly check your tyre tread to ensure that your vehicle has adequate traction.
By performing regular checks on the tyres of your car, you can minimise the risk of potential accidents and blowouts. This monitoring should also include any spare wheels.
For those who live in rural areas with higher volumes of snow, it is also worth considering equipping your vehicle with winter tyres or snow chains for additional grip.
Your engine requires careful monitoring to maintain performance during the harsh winter months.
The lower temperatures mean that it is even more essential to ensure that your engine oil is properly lubricated.
Start by choosing the correct, approved > high-quality engine oil that is designed to perform in cold conditions. These oils are specially formulated to provide enhanced cold start protection.
> TITAN GT1 FLEX 5 0W-20 engine oil by FUCHS is a high-performance engine oil with outstanding cold start properties that is able to maintain efficient flow without thickening when subject to harsh cold temperatures.
After ensuring that you have an adequate engine oil solution, you will need to regularly monitor your engine oil levels using your car's dipstick.
By being thorough when selecting and monitoring your engine oil, you can minimise the risk of engine seizure or component failure and keep your car running smoothly.
When road conditions are more challenging in the winter months, the performance of your brakes is even more vital.
Essential to ensuring that your vehicle can stop safely, you’ll need to monitor your braking system carefully.
This starts with checking your brake fluid levels, ensuring that it sits between the min and max level marks on the brake fluid reservoir. If your brake fluid is below the min level, you will need to top it using > high-quality brake fluid.
You should also assess the condition of your brake fluid, paying attention to the colour. If your brake fluid appears dark or has visible contaminants, then you may need it bleeding and changed by a professional.
As well as brake fluids, you will also need to conduct a visual inspection of your brake pads, callipers and hoses, and remove your wheels if necessary. Check your brake systems for any signs of excessivewear, cracks or leaks.
Most brake pads have a thickness indicator that becomes visible when the pads reach a certain level of thickness; if you can see this indicator, it is time to replace your brake pads.
By performing checks on your braking system, you can trust that your vehicle will be able to stop effectively and safely on winter roads.
Crucial for preparing your vehicle for winter, monitoring your levels and concentration of antifreeze (coolant) is essential to ensuring that your engine doesn’t freeze.
Assess the levels of your antifreeze by checking your coolant reservoir. Coolant levels should sit between the min and max level indicators.
If your antifreeze levels are below the minimum level line, then you will need to top it up using an effective > performance coolant. Concentration can be checked using a suitale antifreeze tester.
Antifreeze fluids should typically be a clear, brightly coloured solution, free from contaminants or clouding; lack of colour and visible dirt, debris or rush particles can reduce the effectiveness of your antifreeze.
By maintaining a clean and effective antifreeze (coolant) system, you can help to improve safety, fuel efficiency and engine longevity.
Winter essentials kit
Having a winter essential kit in your vehicle is about more than just having a window scraper and some de-icer. This vital kit should be kept in case you become stranded in your vehicle.
Your winter essential kit should consist of:
- Warning Triangle
- Mobile Charger / Power Bank
- First Aid Kit
- Warm Clothing or Blankets
- Torch and Batteries
- Safe Footwear (such as boots or wellies)
- Jump Cables
- Tow Rope
- Non-perishable Foods and Bottled Water
Should the worst happen and you find yourself stranded in winter conditions, a winter essentials kit will ensure that you remain safe and comfortable whilst you await assistance.
Lubrication specialists
Winter driving conditions can be challenging, but adhering to the winter car prep tips listed above, you can rest assured that you have taken every measure to maintain vehicle performance and personal safety.
With the help of FUCHS high-quality products, your vehicle can run smoothly throughout winter. Our extensive range of > automotive lubricants and > service solutions are developed by our expert manufacturers backed by over 90 years of industry experience.
To further discuss any of our > industry-leading products, contact our team using the form below.
ANY QUESTIONS?
Here at FUCHS UK, our teams of experts are always on-hand to answer any of your questions. With years of experience in automotive lubrication you can trust that you’re in safe and knowledgeable hands.
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