Looking to get your car Winter ready this Winter? Keep reading to find out how to properly prepare your car for the cold weather.
1. Check the battery and charging system: Cold temperatures can strain a battery and make it harder to start your vehicle. If your car is a few years old, it’s a good idea to have the battery and charging system tested by a professional.
2. Get a winter tune-up: Have a certified mechanic perform a tune-up to ensure your vehicle is running as efficiently as possible. Have them check hoses and belts, change the oil and filter, and inspect other components.
3. Check the brakes: Make sure your brakes are in good working order and that there’s plenty of brake fluid.
4. Inspect the tires: Tire pressure drops in cold weather, so be sure to check the pressure, tread depth, and wear patterns of your tires. Replace any worn tires with winter-grade tires to ensure good traction for snowy roads.
5. Change the wiper blades: Old wipers can leave streaks on your windshield and make it harder to see the road. Install new winter-grade blades to clear away rain, sleet, and snow.
6. Top-up fluids: Make sure your vehicle has the right amount of oil, transmission fluid, antifreeze, and other fluids. If any of these are low, top them off with the appropriate fluid.
7. Emergency kit: Keep a winter emergency kit in your car in case you get stranded in the cold. Include things like a flashlight, spare blankets, snacks, and a first-aid kit.
Following these tips can help you prepare your car for the winter season. For the best results, it’s always a good idea to have a professional inspect your vehicle and perform any necessary repairs and maintenance. That way, you can be sure your car is safe and ready for cold weather.
Winter driving can be a challenge, but there are a few simple tips to help you stay safe on the roads.
Slow Down: When driving in winter conditions, it‘s important to slow down and take your time. Snow and ice can make roads slick and reduce the amount of traction you have. Driving too fast can cause you to lose control of your vehicle, so be sure to slow down and give yourself plenty of time to react.
Increase Following Distance: Following too closely can be dangerous in any condition, but it‘s even more important to increase your following distance in winter. You need more time to slow down and stop in icy and snowy conditions, so make sure you leave plenty of space between you and the car in front of you.
Avoid Excessive Braking: Braking too hard can cause your tires to lose traction, so it‘s important to avoid excessive braking when driving in winter conditions. If you need to slow down, ease off the gas pedal and gently apply the brakes. This will help you maintain control of your vehicle and reduce the chance of skidding.
Use Your Lights: Make sure to use your headlights when driving in winter conditions. This will make it easier for other drivers to see you in dark or snowy conditions, which can help reduce the chance of a collision.
Be Prepared: It‘s also important to be prepared for winter driving. Make sure your car is in good condition by having it serviced regularly. Also, bring along a few winter essentials such as a snow brush, ice scraper, and a blanket in case you get stranded.
These are just a few tips to help you stay safe on the roads during the winter. Remember to always drive with caution and be aware of your surroundings. With a few simple precautions, you can help ensure a safe and smooth ride.
How best to store your motorbike over winter
As the winter months close in, you may find yourself using your motorbike less and less.
Most bikers like to put their vehicle away during the colder, icier and more dangerous months of the year. The roads can be particularly treacherous across these last few months, especially for bikers.
You might be the type of biker who likes to try to get out whenever you can. There will usually be a time that you do decide to put the bike away. Even though we know you don’t want to!
We understand that some riders like to continue biking all year round. However, if you want to play it safe and put the bike away for winter, there are a few things you will need to do…
Go For a Ride
Yes, we mean it – really! Not only to enjoy one last ride before you put the bike away for its winter hibernation, but this will also give the bike a good run out. Allowing you to check everything is in working order. Letting the bike to run before having time off the roads too. We recommend going for a long ride out, anything from half an hour or longer.
Clean Your Motorbike
Next, before putting your bike away we would recommend giving it a good clean. This will make sure that all traces of dirt and dampness have been removed. Helping to minimise any part of the bike decaying whilst not in use. Use any old material you may have to block the bike exhaust and any other areas of the bike that have holes in. Blocking these holes whilst the bike is not in use will stop any damp air from getting inside of the bike and causing hidden damage.
Protect the Battery
You may want to choose to disconnect your battery whilst storing your bike away. However, this can be an issue if you have an alarm fitted. Alternatively, you may want to fit a battery conditioner to your bike which will help to keep the battery in tip-top condition. Poor weather can damage the battery. It’s important to make sure that you have protected the battery, so you don’t fall into the trap of purchasing a new battery every year.
Change Liquids
You can either completely change or top up your bike’s fluids before putting the bike away. Many bikers do change all liquids before storing, but some choose to top up the fluids to prevent evaporation. We would recommend completely changing all liquids in your bike. You can also opt to simply top up and use oil to help to stop rusting too.
Prep Tyres
To make sure that your tyres survive the winter and a few months of rest, you need to make sure you prep them correctly. You can do this by inflating them to the correct tyre pressure. Check your tyre pressure with a good quality pressure gauge. Cheaper pressure gauges can be quite off, they may even give you an incorrect reading which is unhelpful and could potentially be dangerous. It is also a good idea to rotate the tyres every few weeks to stop tyre damage.
Store Indoors
Make sure wherever you choose to store your bike is dry. This is important so that condensation doesn’t start to form which can then in turn trigger corrosion of your bike. Covering your bike with a non-plastic material that will allow air to circulate is also a good idea, to keep the dust and dirt away. We recommend storing the bike with both wheels off the ground if at all possible. This will help the tyres to stay in good condition and stop them from going down or falling out of shape.
Then you are prepped to get the motorbike out and on to the roads in Spring, ready to go!
To get a free personalised quote for a motorbike today, visit motorly:finance
