Winterizing your car: The best tips for vehicle owners

The meteorological winter begins on December 1, 2023, but some drivers still drive with summer tires. Unfortunately, this is also one of the reasons why accidents occur in many places when the roads first become slippery – since winter tires are only required in this country depending on the situation. In plain language, this means: vehicle owners only have to change tires when winter road conditions (black ice, slush or frost) are present. Nevertheless, the ADAC recommends using winter tires from October to Easterwitha tread depth of at least four millimeters to set. Regardless of how cold it is outside. Because the roads are usually slippery faster than you would like. To ensure that you and your vehicle survive the cold season safely, you will find out below how you can winterize your car in addition to changing the tires.

1. Frost protection

To ensure that your vehicle’s cooling system can work smoothly in winter, you must check the cooling water before the onset of winter. Normally it can withstand temperatures down to minus 25 degrees Celsius – if that drops Cooling water level However, below the minimum limit, massive engine damage can occur. To ensure that there is enough radiator antifreeze, it is best to drive your car to a workshop or gas station to have the coolant checked. Unless you own your own Antifreeze tester.

To ensure that you always have a clear view while driving, even in winter, you must Windshield washer fluid also make it frost-proof. The Antifreeze is not only intended for cleaning the windshield, it also ensures that the washer fluid, the pump and ultimately the spray nozzles do not freeze. After you have winterized the window water, you should press the window cleaning lever several times – this is the only way to ensure that the product is distributed evenly throughout the entire system.

2. The window panes

In winter, driving is severely affected by the short days and long nights. Especially when snow and mud dominate the weather and leave annoying streaks on the window panes and cloud the view. So that you always have a clear view, not only well-functioning ones windshield wipers essential – the fan must also run smoothly, as fogged up windows are not uncommon in winter. A special one can also be used here Car dehumidifier To remedy the situation:

There’s one thing you can’t avoid when temperatures drop below zero: Ice scraping – a particularly annoying task, but one that you can speed up with the right tools: Use one ice scraper, who also has a whisk. There are special ones that support this Window de-icer, which can thaw frozen slices in seconds and make scratching easier. Alternatively, you can also use a special one Frost protection cover Use for the windshield:

3. The car battery

According to the ADAC, an empty one belongsCar battery is one of the most common winter breakdowns. This is due to the icy temperatures, which are particularly difficult for older models. If the battery stutters even in mild temperatures, there is a very high probability that it will no longer make a sound below zero degrees. It’s best not to let it get that far – and replace the car battery in good time. In any case, you should always have one Jumper cables carry with you or a portable one Car jump starter store in the trunk:

4. The seals

On cold days it can happen that the seals freeze – and tear if the car doors are opened forcibly. To counteract this, you should clean and grease them before the first frost, this will make them more supple. There are special ones for this too grease pencils and care products, which protect the rubber from drying out or tearing. This not only saves you time, but also the high costs that would normally arise if you had to have the seals replaced.

5. The door lock

So thatDoor locksTo avoid freezing at all, you can do this in advance with a Universal spray or a special oil (non-resinous) to protect it from frost. If it happens that you can no longer turn the key, you would do well to have one Door lock de-icer Always carry it with you – but never keep it in the glove compartment as it will be of no help if it is in the car and you can no longer open the doors.

6. The paint

In the winter months, the paint in particular suffers from the weather conditions: in addition to cold and snow, it is mainly the road salt that affects the protective layer. The regular trip to Car wash is at least as important as that car Care: Treat the paint regularly waxto protect it from external influences. Through the additional polish Counteract the weather and ensure that your vehicle survives the winter without major injuries.

7. The lights

In winter, it is generally advisable to turn on the lights during the day – regardless of how bright it is outside. On the one hand, this gives you a better view and, on the other hand, you can be noticed more quickly by other drivers. To winterize your car, you should lighting always keep it clean and regularly in one Workshop Have it checked to make sure the lights are set correctly and all are working properly.

8. The engine oil

Last but not least, you should too Engine oil Always keep an eye on this throughout the winter: If you only drive short distances by car every day, the engine will no longer warm up properly. The longer cold running phases automatically increase oil consumption, so that Oil change could come to you faster than you would like. It is important to ensure that the viscosity is correct so that the lubricant does not become too thick due to the cold and the engine can no longer work properly.

Tip: If you have never changed your oil yourself, there are a few important points to keep in mind, especially in winter. You can read what these are in the detailed ADAC guide. In this article Find out everything you need to know about mixing, viscosity, SAE classes, ACEA specifications and oil dilution. Of course, you can also contact a workshop that will change the oil for you.

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