How to prepare your car for winter
Cold and icy conditions can have a big impact on your vehicle – here’s how to care for your car this winterWhile Jon Snow might’ve been talking about killer White Walkers when he uttered, “Winter is coming. We know what’s coming with it,” in Game of Thrones; here in Australia, it’s almost as dire, with cold temperatures, wet weather, and icy frosts well and truly upon us.
As well as rugging up and retrieving our umbrellas from the back of our wardrobes to keep warm and dry, we also need to prepare our cars for the change in weather.
“Vehicle maintenance is especially important in winter as cold, wet temperatures set in,” RACV Head of Policy, James Williams, tells carsales, as these changes can impact a car and how it runs.
One example of this is car batteries.
“Car batteries are more likely to drain in cold weather due to slowed chemical reactions, reduced power output and more demand for electrical systems within the vehicle,” says Williams.
Williams advises motorists to keep a keen eye on the ‘check battery’ dashboard light and to ensure they act when electronic performance in the car – dimmed lights, slow windscreen wipers or silent radio – becomes apparent.
For electric vehicles, cooler temperatures can also affect battery range, so EV drivers also need to be vigilant.
“While the impact of cold weather does vary depending on the temperature and type of battery, it is true that cold weather can impact and reduce an EV’s battery range in extreme conditions,” says Williams.
EV users will have more success if they keep their battery in the 20-80 per cent range and warm up their EV for 20-30 minutes before charging.
“Heat pumps are a nice add-on that can help you keep the EV warm and preserve range. This new technology uses heat from the outside, compresses it and uses this warm air to heat the cabin and battery,” adds Williams.
As well as batteries, Williams says there are other important vehicle checks you should complete, ideally in the lead up to winter:
- Checking your car lights – tail lights, high beams, and fog lights
- Cleaning and taking care of your windscreen and windscreen wipers
- Checking your coolant and oil levels
“While checking your car lights and windscreen wipers are key to maintaining good visibility, it’s also vital to have a healthy coolant level, because the engine’s coolant system works to maintain the engine’s optimal operating temperature,” says Williams.
Related: When should I replace my car's engine coolant?
Motorists can check that their coolant hasn’t deteriorated by using a torch to check the liquid inside the reservoir. If it is brown, sludgy or has visible floating particles, it may need to be flushed and replaced by a professional.
Inspecting your tyres
” When it comes to tyre checks, look over the tyres, making sure that they have sufficiently deep treads,” says Williams.
Related: How to check your tyre’s tread
If the tyres are bald or worn out, seek to replace them immediately.
For anyone driving to the snow this winter, carrying chains is important for safety and in some states, including Victoria, it is also a requirement, meaning motorists can face substantial fines if you do not comply.
Winter road safety
While these checks help maintain your vehicle and ensure it runs efficiently, they are also critical to road safety.
“When conditions are wet, visibility is reduced, and it’s cold and even frosty, there is added importance on your preparation and your vehicle’s performance,” says Williams.
Bald tyres, faulty windscreen wipers or a flat battery are all common problems that motorists need to be aware of.
“When features of your vehicle that are specifically designed to make you safer in these conditions are not operating as designed, Williams says, “motorists place themselves at increased risk.”
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