We operate cars in winter: how to prepare the car and what to look for

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

Winter is not an easy time to operate a car, because you need to be very responsible about this process. Of course, it is better for a novice driver not to drive at all in winter, but this is not always possible, and therefore it is worth knowing how to operate cars in winter.

Keeping the rules

When driving any vehicle, try to ensure that you have enough room to maneuver. A winter road covered with snow and ice affects the fact that the adhesion of the wheels to the road becomes worse, respectively, the braking distance increases. And this leads to a decrease in the time left for maneuvers. In winter, you should drive in such a way that at least a few meters remain before the vehicle in front. The second important point is the utmost attention to the road. In winter, you should be especially careful, as quite a lot of trouble awaits on an icy road.

Preparing the car

Operating a car in winter is troublesome, so it is important that your vehicleit was well and well prepared. What does it mean? First, it is not only the windshield that needs to be cleared of snow and ice. Don't expect all the ice to fall off as the car warms up. A competent driver will carefully sweep the snow from the entire car and clean the glass from ice and frost. Remember that timely cleaning of the car is a guarantee that it will warm up faster, which means that the engine will run longer.

It is very important to keep external lights clean as well. Of course, headlights and lanterns get dirty very quickly, but you need to clean them, because in the event of snowfall or fog, it will not be easy to notice your car even with the headlights on. And this can lead to an emergency on the road.

How to prepare a car for winter, or preparing a sleigh in summer

Start with winter tires. Remember that for winter conditions on the roads, their own products are created, and you should not neglect them. These tire models feature an improved tread pattern that is more suitable for driving on snowy or icy roads. In addition, winter tires on a car have a completely different composition and are elastic, which remains resistant even in severe frosts. It is necessary to install winter tires on both axles, and they must be the same. If the car will be operated on a cleared road in the city, then it is quite possible to get by with non-studded tire models. But for constant driving on packed snow or ice, you can’t do without spikes. In some cases, chains may be requiredanti-skid, which are put on the wheels to overcome, for example, snowdrifts.

Attention to the motor and battery

When operating cars in winter, you need to choose certain types of motor oils. Ideal for cold climates - oil with an index of 15W. It is able to maintain normal viscosity up to -15 degrees. For frosts of -20-30 degrees, 10W and 5W indices are quite suitable. It is also worth paying attention to the battery: if it has been in operation for a long time, it is worth replacing it in advance. Ideally, you can save the battery charge in a warm room, while it must be recharged in a timely manner. Before starting the engine, it is imperative to warm up the car in winter,for example, by turning on the low beam for a certain time.

When choosing a coolant, pay attention to the frost resistance margin. If there is too much antifreeze, this will affect the condition of the rubber hoses. If there were cases that you diluted antifreeze with water, then before the winter operation of the car, take care of replacing the coolant, otherwise cracks will appear in the cylinder heads.

Clean glass and body

Washing a car in winter will be carried out quite often, since the dirt and saline solutions that are abundantly sprinkled on the roads of our cities settle first of all on the car. It is important to keep the windshield wipers in working condition, it is better to purchase special winter wipers in which the movable rocker arms are additionally protected withusing a cover. This will prevent the cleaner from sticking to the glass. Take the brushes away from the glass at night to avoid sticking.

By the way, you should not save on washer fluid, because excess water, which many drivers dilute it with, can lead to brush breakage. It's best to always have a ready-to-use liquid on hand, as diluting it in cold weather is not the best solution.

When operating cars in winter, you need to be careful and careful. For example, snow brought into the cabin will lead to the formation of moisture. Evaporating, it will fog up the windows. To combat this phenomenon, you can turn on the air recirculation mode in the cabin. Dry air is a guarantee that condensation will not accumulate on the windows.

How to start the engine?

Warming up a car in winter is a fairly common problem, especially in severe frosts. To start the engine, you need to follow a few rules:

1. Choose the right engine oil.
2. Recharge battery capacity.
3. Check the level of antifreeze and top up if necessary. When operating a car in frosty conditions, the coolant should be changed every five years.
4. Check spark plugs - they last at least five years. If their service life has already passed this time limit, you should think about replacing the candles.

There are two ways to start the engine in winter. The easiest is to keep the battery at home and install it before starting. It's effective, but not veryconvenient, because in new cars, for example, turning off the on-board computer is undesirable.

The second way is to warm up the battery by first turning on the side lights for 20 seconds, then turn on the low beam for the same time, and then warm up the battery with the high beam. This will lead to the activation of chemical reactions in the battery, raise the temperature in it, respectively, increase its capacity. And this will lead to an improvement in the launch of the car.

Washing: how to do it right?

For many car enthusiasts, washing a car in winter brings a lot of trouble. Experts say that washing your vehicle in winter is a must, and not only because its appearance will be completely unpresentable. In addition, any reagents that are sprinkled on the road in winter can harm the body, since contact of s alt with metal will lead to chips and scratches. And this, in turn, will lead to corrosion. That is, it is clear that washing the car in winter is simply a must.

The second important point is how to do it. On your own, that is, in the yard and ordinary water, you definitely cannot achieve purity, since the water will simply freeze. In addition, wiping the body with a rag can scratch it. Therefore, washing a car in winter is possible only in special services that use the appropriate equipment and materials. At home, you can lightly wipe the body with warm water at about 30-40 degrees, the main thing is not to overdo it with the temperature, because if it is too high, the glass may burst.

The third point is drying the car. She canperformed manually (using suede) or automatically, using special settings. The second option is preferable, since the machine will be blown from all sides. After drying the car, it is necessary to start blowing the locks, handles, gas tank neck. But it is better not to mess with washing the engine in winter, because it may simply not start. After washing the car, you can still treat rubber bands and seals with a special lubricant: this will prevent them from freezing and cracking.

Is it possible to insulate a car for the winter?

In the cold season, many are faced with the problem of quickly starting the engine of their car. If you do not know how to insulate a car in winter, start by protecting the engine and radiator from cold air. For example, many car enthusiasts prefer to lay some kind of durable, wind-resistant material as a layer between the grille and the radiator itself. You can also put a sheet of thermal insulation on top of the engine, which will prevent the engine from cooling down quickly. In some cases, it is advisable to use stationary or autonomous systems that will warm up the engine.

As you can see, the rules for operating a car in winter are not the most tricky. The main thing is not to leave everything in the end and prepare the sled, that is, ammunition, for your car in advance. For example, you can stock up on winter tires even in the summer - it’s better to have it in the garage and wait in the wings than you drive along an icy road to the nearest tire service. Well, do not forget about the timelytechnical inspection of your "iron friend" - this will prevent many possible problems.