Preparing for the cold snap

Date

February 01, 2012

Full Story

As we move into February, winter is once more gripping the nation and driving conditions are becoming increasingly dangerous. Preparing yourself and your vehicle for a sudden cold snap is important at this time of year, especially with Britain’s infamous, ever-changing weather.

Of course, constantly carrying a full arctic survival kit is a little impractical…

…as well as completely unnecessary.

Instead, by following a few simple guidelines you can make yourself ready to deal with any situation.

Where to start?

The first step in preparing for winter is to ensure your car is running just how it should be. Whether old or new, regular check-ups are a crucial part of maintaining your vehicle at any time of year.

·         Engine Cooling/Heating Systems  

During the cold months, coolant fluid is prone to freezing without the correct antifreeze additive so it is important to have the antifreeze level checked. The coolant and heating pipes in the engine bay can crack in extreme cold so keeping an eye on them is vital.

·         Windscreen Wipers and Washer Fluid

Keeping your windscreen clean does get harder in the winter so it is a guarantee that you will use more windscreen wash. Using winterised screen-wash is a good way to ensure your screen stays clean. Also, wiper blade rubbers deteriorate a lot more quickly in freezing temperatures. It is useful to keep a spare set handy.

·         Batteries

The cold will also have an adverse effect on other components such as the battery, which can lose up to one third of its power, rendering a weak battery useless.

Head down to your local Hendy branch for a free health check that covers all of the car’s components. At the same time you can take advantage of our large range of winter products.

Day-to-day life (made easier)

Most of us drive to and from work every day and ice on your car and the roads are a constant annoyance to commuters. Thankfully, there are a few items that make life a little easier:

·         Ice Scraper   This is a winter must have for any car. Although you should never use a scraper on heated glass, the side windows can still frost up.

·         De-icer   Another great addition to your winter arsenal. It comes in a spray can and once applied to the windows, will start to melt the ice within a matter of seconds.

·         Windscreen Cover   This will save you from the labour of clearing ice from your windscreen. Just place it on there in the evening and come morning – Voila! Away you go with an ice-free screen.

The worst case scenario

Now, no matter how well you look after your car there is still a slight chance that you could end up broken down or stuck in the freezing cold, where you may find yourself wishing for that arctic survival kit.

Keeping a bag of salt or sand, a shovel and a few strips of carpet (or any material that could provide the tyres with some grip) should be enough to get you out of a slippery situation and if all else fails; help is normally only a phone call away. But what if your phone has no signal, or runs out of batteries? What if you don’t have a phone? Maybe that survival kit isn’t such a ridiculous idea.

If you are spending a night stuck in your car, a few general items will keep you safe until help arrives.

·         A torch with extra batteries is a definite, but a portable flashing light (or something similar) will alert anyone passing through the area of your position.

·         Water and food (snack bars, fruit, etc) will keep you alive through the night.

·         To stop you freezing to death; warm clothing, spare socks, gloves, a hat, winter footwear and a blanket (keep the engine running as long as possible to make full use of the heating).

·         An in-car phone charger means that you shouldn’t need any of the above :P

Survival training isn’t really my thing

Want to avoid getting into a situation like the one described? Then route planning is for you. If you are travelling a long distance, you may want to plan different aspects of your journey in advance.

1.       Pick a route. If possible, include an alternate route in case you run into problems.

2.       Check the traffic news for your route to avoid any major delays.

3.       Inform a family member or friend of where you are going.

4.       Decide on an estimated time of arrival and allow time for road or traffic problems.

Winter driving doesn’t have to be chore and if you stick to these guidelines, you can sit back and enjoy this wonderful time of year.

We hope you find these tips helpful. If you have anymore, please email theinze@hendy-group.com

Tom