How to Look After Your Car in the Winter

We all know that taking care of your car all year round is important but the tasks vary with the time of year. Just like people, cars need different care during the winter and summer months.

We’ve got another post on what you need to do to look after your car in warmer months so in this one we’re going to cover everything you need to know to keep your car in top running condition during the winter.

General car care

There are several general care tips you should follow in order to keep your vehicle roadworthy so before we look at the winter specific ones we wanted to remind you of these.

These include regularly checking your tyres, vehicle fluids, and keeping it clean.

Tyres

It’s important to check your tyres regularly and we’ve got an in-depth guide for anyone unsure on what they need to be looking for here.

Fluids

You should regularly check the fluids in your vehicle to ensure they're at the correct levels.

You should be checking the:

• Brake fluid 
• Oil 
• Engine coolant 
• Power steering fluid 
• Transmission fluid 
• Screen wash 

Before checking any fluids, you should make sure your car is parked on level ground and not on any incline or with one side on the pavement as this can affect the readings you get.

You should also ensure that you're checking the fluids when your engine is cold. This is not only to ensure accurate readings but to reduce the impact of accident or injury to yourself by touching a hot engine.

How to check your brake fluid

Brake fluid is essential for the vehicle to work correctly, and if your brakes ever feel slow or abnormal then we recommend checking the brake fluid first.

Most manufacturers advise that the brake fluid regularly needs changing, normally around every 2 years at least.

However, you might also want to check or top up the fluid between these changes.

Checking the brake fluid is pretty straightforward, you should be able to locate the brake fluid under the hood and be able to open the container to see the colour of it and top up if needed. The colour should be lighter and near transparent not cloudy or dark.

Like several of the other fluids there's a minimum and maximum level, and your brake fluid should sit between these.

You should always check the type of brake fluid your vehicle needs as this can vary between models and putting the wrong type into your car can cause further issues.

How to check your oil

When purchasing and using oil you should always check the owner’s manual or manufacturer’s website in order to get the correct oil for your vehicle.

Near the dipstick will be a lid to the oil container that you should use to fill the oil up rather than trying to use the narrow gap of the dipstick entry.

How to check your engine coolant

In a traditional combustion engine a lot of the energy is converted into heat and so engine coolant is an important fluid to check.

It’s particularly important to check this with a cool engine as the system runs very hot and is highly pressurised and so could cause severe burns.

There will be minimum and maximum lines on the coolant tank and the level once cool should sit comfortably between them.

If the level is below the minimum then you'll need to carefully open the radiator cap and then top up, making sure not to go above the maximum.

Again, it’s important to make sure that you're using the correct grade of coolant before putting it into the engine.

How to check your power steering fluid

Power steering fluid is important to ensure smooth and effortless steering and if you find that your steering becomes difficult then this is the first thing we recommend checking.

The location of the power steering fluid varies between cars and so we always recommend checking the vehicle manual or manufacturer’s website to find out the location of this.

Once you’ve located the power steering fluid there will usually be level markings on the side, as with the majority of the other fluids. Most cars have hot and cold maximum and minimum levels, and if the car has been driven in the last 8 hours then we recommend using the hot levels but if it has been over 8 hours then use the cold levels.

To refill the power steering fluid, open the cap on the reservoir and pour it in, checking to ensure you don't overfill it. You might want to use a funnel as this helps you reduce the amount going in and prevents spillage around the tank.

Checking your transmission fluid

You shouldn't usually need to check your transmission fluid, and in fact, in most manual vehicles you aren't able to as they don’t have a dipstick for this task.

The transmission fluid is generally fitted in the factory and doesn't require topping up, unless in the event of a repair or service.

We advise against changing your own transmission fluid unless you're a qualified mechanic and instead taking your vehicle to a professional if you feel it needs to be topped up or changed as this might indicate a larger issue.

How to check your screen wash

We recommend checking the instructions on the fluid before adding it to your vehicle as some need water adding as well.

For more information on keeping your vehicle in a safe condition check out this blog.

Cleaning your car in the winter

Another important aspect of vehicle ownership is keeping the car clean.

Not only does cleaning your vehicle ensure it looks its best, but it also keeps it running in top condition and reduces distractions to you as the driver.

We’ve got an in-depth guide on the best practices for cleaning your car but there are some general tips and practices that we'll sum up for you here.

You should clean your car regularly throughout the year to avoid damage from things like paint damage from bird poo or sap and to prevent unnecessary hazards with dirty windows or lights.

It’s easier than it looks to clean your car and you don’t need any fancy equipment to do this. You can clean your car with a bucket, sponge and cleaning shampoo, though a hose or power washer does make it a little easier.

Before you start to clean the car you should always rinse it down first, making sure you rinse every part of the vehicle off.

Once this is done you can wash your car, following the instructions on the shampoo or cleaning fluid you've chosen.

You will usually need to add a certain amount to a bucket of water and then use a tool to add this to the vehicle.

There are specialised power washers you can add cleaning fluid to, however if you don't frequently wash a number of vehicles these can be quite a pricey investment.

If you're using a sponge or brush to clean the vehicle then be careful not to press down and scrub against the paintwork too hard to avoid causing any damage. You can also get a special mitt, which is a glove with a textured pam that you wear, which you can use to clean.  

You may need to clean some areas repeatedly to get rid of stubborn dirt, sap or other marks.

We recommend getting a specialist wheel brush when you're cleaning them as these are narrower and allow you to get into the gaps between the spokes of the wheels. They're usually made of a slightly different material so they can really scrub at the dirt that gets caught there.

Once you’ve cleaned the entire vehicle you'll need to rinse it off again.

You can pat the vehicle dry with a microfibre cloth or shammy to avoid any smudges where it dries. Alternatively, you can let the vehicle dry in the sun and then buff out any marks that appear later.

Once the vehicle is dry you might also want to wax it for additional protection from the elements. You should follow any specific directions given on the container of wax you have chosen but in general you should apply a small amount onto a pad and rub this into the paintwork using a small circular motion. After applying the wax to the entire vehicle, remove it using a soft cloth.

When cleaning the windows you should try to ensure these dry without smudges or marks on them, and you might want to use special glass cleaner to do this.

What happens to my car battery in winter?

You might think it’s an old wives’ tale that the cold weather can have an impact on your car but it’s actually true.

Batteries work best in hotter weather as they can conduct electricity more easily. This is why most people find their car needs a jump start or even ends up with a totally flat battery during the winter.

To avoid this, we recommend running the vehicle regularly, taking it out for at least half an hour once or twice a week to ensure the battery remains charged, even if you don't need to drive anywhere.

Signs that your battery is dying include it taking longer than usual to turn over when you start the vehicle or that the red battery warning light flickers while you're driving or remains on for longer than normal when you start up the engine.  

Driving in ice and snow

You should always clear any frost, ice or snow from all of your windows, in order to ensure the best visibility.

Not only is this good practice but it’s actually covered in Rule 229 of the Highway Code which state you must demist and clear all your mirrors, clean your lights, make sure your number plate is visible and that all your windows are clear before setting off.

If it's snowed and there's snow built up on your roof then you'll also need to clear your roof of any snow. If you leave this on your roof it will fall off while driving and if it falls onto your windscreen it will reduce your visibility endangering you and other drivers. It could also fall off at speed and cause a hazard to other road users. It’s possible if you're driving with snow on your vehicle to be stopped and charged for driving without due consideration or using a motor vehicle in dangerous conditions. If you're charged with either of these crimes then you could receive a fine and 3 points on your driving licence.

When there is snow or ice on the road you should also be careful when driving and drive a little slower to help you avoid the ice and to allow you more time to react if you do hit any. 

Winter breakdown kit

We’ve mentioned a few times in our blogs and guides about keeping a breakdown kit or winter kit in your car because we think it’s an important thing for every driver to have.

A breakdown kit essentially comprises the items you should keep in your car in the event of a breakdown. We recommend a few key items for every driver to put in theirs which are:

In parts of Europe, some of these items are a legal requirement but the UK doesn't currently have a legal requirement to keep any of these in your car.

As well as the above items you can customise your kit for your own family’s needs, tastes and even for the season. For example, in winter we recommend keeping a blanket in the car to provide additional warmth in the colder weather. Or you might want to swap the cereal bars out for a chocolate bar, crisps or your other favourite snack food that doesn’t need to be refrigerated. Those with children might also find it useful to keep additional clothing, like a spare coat or extra jumper for each of them in the vehicle as well as something to keep them entertained if stranded for a period of time.