Before the arrival of winter, service station workers advise car owners to prepare their car for this harsh season. Changes in weather conditions can cause a number of breakdowns, and proper preparation of the vehicle will avoid this.
Replacing rubber is the number one business
Change your car by replacing summer tires with winter ones. Already at + 5 ° C, summer tires become very hard and slippery, which is fraught with an emergency on the road.
Examine winter tires. Do not rush to grab the ruler: there is a special jumper in the central groove of the tire, the height of which is exactly the same 4 mm. If the tread is flush with it, the tire must be replaced.
Do this more often in winter than in warm seasons. The temperature difference, which is typical for the cold season, can affect the pressure in the tire. A 10 ° C cold snap will change the pressure by 0.1 bar.
Friction tires, or the so-called velcro, are most suitable for city driving. The best rubber option is "arctic" ("Scandinavian"). The "European" tire is not suitable for harsh winters. It is highly undesirable to ride on all-season tires.
"Shipovka" greatly impairs the car's handling on dry asphalt and rolled snow. It also increases fuel consumption and braking distance. At the same time, studded rubber is simply indispensable for out-of-town driving and for overcoming icy road sections.
Fill in an anti-freeze liquid
Be sure to drain the water from the washer reservoir. Do this before the first frost comes. If the tank freezes, do not panic! Just pour some alcohol into it and take the car to the car wash.
Get the most cold-resistant (-25 ° C; -30 ° C). Due to the constant airflow, the temperature of the windshield of the car is always below the air temperature.
If you do not tolerate the specific smell of "anti-freeze", which it owes to isopropyl alcohol, pour vodka diluted with plain water into the tank. Remember to install winter wiper blades.
Change the oil and filter
During winter driving, the load on the motor increases, therefore. Its viscosity is selected individually and depends on the requirements of your car's engine. The recommended viscosity can be found in the instruction manual of your machine.
If you have previously operated your car with mineral oil, you should not replace it with synthetic oil due to its high acid characteristics. As a result of such a replacement, oil seals may leak!
Replacing the coolant
If the machine is more than 5-7 years old, do not be too lazy to flush the entire cooling system. … Such savings increase pump wear, and at low temperatures it can completely disable the engine.
Changing the spark plugs
Install new spark plugs. If your old candles have worked less than 15 thousand km, do not rush to throw them into the trash can. Such candles can be safely used when it gets warmer.
Checking the battery
To be more precise, its charge should be checked. It is better to do this in cold weather, while the density of the electrolyte should be at least 1.27 g / cc. see Clean the terminals and fully charge the battery.
We process the body
If you want to become an exemplary car owner, before the arrival of winter, make anti-corrosion treatment of the body of your "swallow". Wash the vehicle thoroughly to check for damage. On a car with front-wheel drive, do not be too lazy to put wheel arches and mud flaps.
Checking the fuel tank
Be sure to drain the sludge from the tank and replace the fuel filter.
Checking brake pads and brake fluid
Replace the pads if they are badly worn out. Change the brake fluid if you have not done so in the past two years. Don't tempt fate on snowy roads!
Checking the chassis
Check the steering and camber of the machine so that it is not pulled to the side while driving.
We complete the trunk
In winter, it will be useful to have certain items in the car that can help you out on a snowy road. Be sure to put in your trunk:
- shovel;
- cable;
- wires for "lighting" - "crocodiles";
- scraper for removing ice from windows;
- snow brush;
- glass anti-icers;
- spare tire with winter tires.
Do not be lazy to take care of your "iron friend"! Believe me, it is better to do prophylaxis than to pay for expensive repairs later.
