How to prepare your car for colder weather

9th Sep, 2024

It’s that time of year again… the days are getting shorter, and the temperatures are beginning to drop. As the saying goes: winter is coming. And however excited or disheartened you are about the onset of the chillier seasons, there’s no question that now is a crucial time to ensure your car is ready to handle the challenges of colder weather. Winter driving can be particularly demanding on your car, with cold temperatures potentially leading to a range of mechanical issues. Doing a couple of quick jobs well in advance can make things surprisingly easier on your trusty motor, minimising the likelihood of issues and ensuring you won’t have to prematurely scrap your car.

Here are a couple of the top jobs that we’d suggest!

Check your battery

One of the most essential aspects of winter car preparation is ensuring your battery is in good condition. Cold weather can significantly impact battery performance, often leading to difficulties in starting the engine. A weak battery may struggle to provide the necessary power in freezing temperatures, so it’s a good idea to have your battery tested before winter arrives. Many garages offer free battery checks, and it’s worth taking advantage of this service. Additionally, make sure the battery terminals are clean and tightly connected, as loose or corroded connections can also cause starting issues. If your battery is older than three years, consider having it replaced as a precaution.

Inspect your tyres

Ice, snow, and rain can obviously make roads slippery, so having well-maintained tyres is crucial for safe driving. For that reason alone, make sure to check the tread depth of your tyres regularly, as deeper tread provides better grip and reduces the risk of skidding on icy surfaces. In the UK, it’s recommended that tyres have at least 3mm of tread for winter driving. Cold temperatures can also cause tyres to lose pressure, so while you’re at it, don’t forget to check that your tyre pressure is at the correct level!

Review your coolant and antifreeze levels

Coolant and antifreeze both play a vital role in maintaining your engine’s optimal operating temperature, effectively preventing it from freezing in cold weather. The coolant system is responsible for regulating engine temperature and preventing overheating, while antifreeze ensures that the coolant remains liquid even in freezing conditions.

So then, check your coolant level and top it up if necessary, making sure you use the correct type of coolant specified for your vehicle. It’s also important to check the antifreeze mixture, which should typically be a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water, (although it’s worth noting that some vehicles may require different ratios). This kind of regular inspection and maintenance of the coolant system can prevent engine damage and ensure reliable performance during winter.

Examine your brakes

This is perhaps the most important one! Braking performance is crucial for winter driving, and ensuring your brakes are in good working order is a key part of winter preparation. That’s why it’s so vital to inspect your brake pads and discs for signs of wear, such as squeaking or grinding noises, as these may indicate that they need replacing. Worn brake pads can reduce braking efficiency and increase stopping distances, which is particularly dangerous on slippery roads.

Of course, if you’re not able to give them a direct visual inspection yourself, you can just keep an ear out while driving – brakes tend to get fairly vocal when their condition starts to deteriorate, and obviously you’ll start to feel it through your feet, too. If you notice any issues – or you’re concerned about them – it’s best to have your brakes checked and serviced by a professional before the cold weather sets in.

And don’t forget to ensure that your brake fluid levels are adequate, as low brake fluid can equally have a severe effect on your braking performance.

Test your lights and wipers

This is arguably just as important as your brakes, but for some reason lots of people tend to overlook it! You’ll need to test your lights and wipers to ensure that you maintain visibility. Start by checking your windscreen wipers and the condition of the wiper blades, as they can wear out quickly due to ice and snow. Worn-out blades can leave streaks on your windscreen, impairing your visibility. Consider using a winter-specific screen wash to help keep your windscreen clear of ice and grime, and ensure your wiper fluid reservoir is topped up.

Next, you’ll need to ensure that your car’s lights are functioning correctly, including headlights, brake lights, and indicators. Replace any bulbs that are dim or not working to improve visibility and safety. Not only can faulty lights reduce your visibility, but they can also make you less visible to other drivers – making them dangerous from a variety of standpoints!

Those are our top recommendations – you may well have some additional areas you want to focus on! And of course, when the day comes that your car finally becomes too fragile come the harder winter seasons, and you’ve decided it’s not worth the time or money to maintain anymore, that’s where we come in here at Scrap Car Network. With decades of experience to our name, we’re committed to helping you get the very best price for your scrap car. All you need to do is enter your car reg and postcode into the fields on our site, and we’ll get you an instant online quote before you can say cash for cars. It only takes a few seconds. Curious to find out how much your car is worth?