Five things to check on your car for winter

Friday, 5 June 2020

Winter hit parts of New Zealand with a vengeance this weekend which means it's time to refresh your memory of cold tyres and wet roads.

Rain, ice and snow all make up a big part of our New Zealand winters, so making sure your car is in the best shape possible to deal with all of these conditions is vital this time of year.

Today we look at five of the basics you should check before winter really takes hold.

Just remember though; these are some very basic things you should check (or have someone check, if you are not sure).

Make sure you can see

Before winter really sets in, be sure to get any cracks or chips in your windscreen fixed and double check the health of your wipers too.

Starting with the basics, a quick visual check of your windscreen is important and possibly the easiest thing to check. Obviously any chips or cracks should be attended to right away.

Check your wiper arms for any defects and check the state of your wiper blades. If you haven't changed the blades for a while, now is a good time.

Also, before the cold really hits, be sure to check that your heater and rear window defroster are working properly, as you don't want to find that one out too late.

Your battery is a rather crucial part of your car so don't neglect it. If you're not sure, get an expert to check for you.

Give your battery some love

Even if you've changed your battery recently, checking the terminals for corrosion is never a bad idea.

Making sure electrolyte levels are good is another box to tick while you're poking around the battery, although that isn't always possible (or necessary) with some new batteries in late model cars.

Make sure the battery is clean (a thick mixture of baking soda and water is good for cleaning the battery with an old toothbrush, making sure it is safely disconnected first) before you open the (usually) six round, or two rectangular covers on the top of the battery, as the electrolyte fluid should never be contaminated.

The electrolyte fluid should cover the cells and be the same level across all of them. If a cell is exposed, or its level is lower than the rest, then add distilled water until it covers the cells entirely.

Don't leave the fluid check to just oil. Have a look at your coolant levels and your window washer fluid too.

If your battery is more than three years old or the car has difficulty starting, then you should get your mechanic to check its ability to hold a charge and replace it if necessary.

Check your fluid levels

Oil tends to thicken as it gets colder, and if it gets too thick it won't be as effective at lubricating your engine, so checking it this time of year is vital.

Check your oil when the engine is cold (if you have just turned it off, then let it stand for at least 10 minutes) and if it is below the 'add' line, then do what it says and add enough take it just over the line.

Oil turns black quickly, so don't worry about that, but rub a small amount between your fingers and if it leaves a smudge, then you probably need an oil change. Likewise, if the oil is thick and sludgy, you are well overdue for a change.

Every car on the road needs to have tyres that are up to scratch, especially when the weather gets dicey.

The ratio of water to antifreeze you need in your radiator depends on your car, but generally between 30 and 50 per cent is suitable, depending on how cold it gets where you live.

While you're there, check your window washer fluid reservoir and make sure it isn't just filled with plain water, as this can easily freeze. It also doesn't clean the windscreen very well.

Tyres

Tyre health is important at any time of year but especially so when the roads are slick and grip is low.

Not this sort of hose, the ones in your car.

The minimum legal tread depth in New Zealand is 1.5mm across 85 per cent of the tyre's width, but anything less than 3mm should really start you thinking about new tyres.

The easiest way to check your tread is to use a 20 cent coin - the base of the number 20 is roughly 2mm from the edge of the coin, so if you can see the whole of the number, you need new tyres.

It's also important to check your tyre pressures either with your own pressure gauge or at a service station's air pump.

Belts and hoses

While your mechanic will check all your belts and hoses at your car's regular service, a quick look over them at the start of winter is always a good idea, even if you have no idea what you are looking at!

Anything that looks loose or out of place should raise an alarm and anything that looks worn or frayed should be checked by a mechanic immediately.

Of course, any new or unusual noises you hear when the car is running should also be checked right away.