Winter is here - is your vehicle ready?
April 2011Just like you stock up on vitamins or put on a bit more moisturiser during winter, your car needs extra attention too. While South Africa doesn't suffer a dramatic drop in temperature during winter, it is still advisable to be aware that the change of season does affect your car.
"Any small problems you had with your car in good weather will treble in the cold. For example, if you had the slightest trouble getting your vehicle started in summer, you can absolutely count on staying home when the temperature goes "north," so to speak," says Martin Janse van Rensburg, spokesperson for Budget Insurance Brokers.
Give your vehicle the winter once-over
Janse van Rensburg suggests giving your vehicle a complete check-up now to prepare sufficiently for winter driving. Focus on addressing any problems before they occur regarding the following components of the vehicle:
- If your car is in need of a service, get it sorted out now! If you break down in winter, not only is it freezing outside and you will be left stranded in the cold until a tow-truck comes along, but it is a safety risk too.
- Before you leave the house on a cold, winter morning, make sure to clear any frost from the windscreen with warm water, not boiling water! Boiling, hot water can cause your windscreen to crack.
- Make sure your tyres have adequate tread. Driving on wet roads with worn or unmaintained tyres is a hazard not only for yourself, but for other drivers on the road as well.
- Always keep your petrol tank over half full. In the winter, if you do get stuck or stranded, the engine will be your only source of heat. The other reason for a full tank of petrol is that warm daytime temperatures will fill the empty space in the petrol tank with moisture, which will condense during the cold night. If your petrol tank is not full, this water will sink to the bottom and rust your petrol tank.
- Check your engine oil, especially before a long journey. Cars use more oil in the winter, so it is advisable to check the oil level more often than you do in the summer.
- Keep in mind that some car batteries will lose power as the temperature drops. So, even though you will you need more power to start your car in winter, you get less power from the same battery. The lower the temperature, the harder it is for the fuel in your engine to ignite when starting. If you haven't had a service in a while, now's the time to get one. With a fresh set of spark plugs and a new distributor cap, (if required), the chances of your car starting without flooding improves a great deal.
- Make sure your cars defroster works. It is needed for safe driving. Also, make sure the heater is working, but take care, as a too hot interior can lead to drowsiness.
Ensuring that your vehicle is in good shape is one of the two primary aspects of safe driving in winter – the other rests squarely on the shoulders of the motorist.
"As a driver, you need to recognise that motoring in winter is often difficult and presents more perils than driving at other times in the year," Janse van Rensburg says.
He advises bearing in mind the following safety tips:
- Keep your seat belt buckled at all times.
- Drive at reduced speeds to avoid slipping out of control on icy or wet roads.
- Allow for extra travelling time or even consider delaying a trip if the weather is inclement.
- Steer smoothly and avoid changing lanes too quickly, as that can cause skidding. Be patient and overtake cars only when it is safe to do so.
- Avoid driving when tired.
- Check weather conditions for your travel route before you start your journey.
