In the last days of autumn, it's time to take care of preparing your car for winter. The best option is to contact a specialized service center and conduct a thorough diagnosis, but not all motorists have the time and money for this. However, you can carry out minimal maintenance on your vehicle yourself.
When preparing your car for harsh winter conditions, you must do the following ^
1. Change tires for winter ones. Which one to give preference to, studded or friction (Velcro), each motorist decides for himself, depending on the expected operating conditions. Velcro is more suitable for cities with well-cleaned roads, while studded tires will give you confidence on icy and snowy trails.
2. Check the charge level and electrolyte density of the battery. At low temperatures, the ability of the battery to provide a large starting current is sharply reduced, and the low density of the electrolyte in combination with the engine oil thickened from the cold will make the engine impossible to start.
3. Change engine oil. In winter, it is advisable to fill in oils with a low viscosity parameter (5W-30; 5W-40) or use multigrade oils (5W-40). They thicken to a lesser extent with decreasing temperature, which provides an easier and more confident engine start.
4. Fill the washer fluid reservoir with winter fluid. It must be guaranteed not to solidify to a temperature of at least -20 degrees Celsius.
5. Check the serviceability of the brake system. When braking hard, all wheels should brake equally, without the slightest skid. Even a small skid when braking on dry summer asphalt can turn into uncontrollable and unpredictable gliding on ice in winter.
6. Check the windscreen wiper blades. They should confidently clean the glass in two passes. If not, they need to be replaced.
7. Put in the trunk a shovel, power wires for starting the engine from another vehicle, a second tow rope, a defroster for locks. All this at any time can help not only you, but also other road users.
