In order to use your vehicle even in the cold season without any problems, you should perform a winter check. For the particular climatic conditions that prevail in the winter in the form of ice or snow, the security may well have a negative influence. This is especially the case if your vehicle is not equipped for the winter. Thus, the winter check definitely bears to increased security and should therefore be carried out each year.
When the winter check should be carried out?
As the winter is both human and machine, so in the case of the car, special demands is, the winter check should be carried out in time. As before, however, can many drivers surprised by the onset of winter. As for the right time of the check, so you can refer to the known target for the use of winter tires, which says: “O to O”, i.e. from October to Easter. In early October is therefore a good time to be carried out the winter check. Should of course be apparent that the temperatures fall below the limit of five degrees before October, the winter check should be taken earlier in the attack. But not only the timely check is important, but it is especially important that the test is as complete as possible.
What should be checked during the winter check?
In winter check it is not a question to be only briefly checked the antifreeze and the lighting, as unfortunately some vendors offer. A “real” winter check should contain significantly more checkpoints.
Winter tires and battery
For some time, winter tires are mandatory in this country if certain weather conditions such as ice and snow prevail. Therefore, the winter tires – also because of the great influence on the driving safety – the first very important checkpoint during winter check. To check first is the sufficient tread depth should be at least 4 mm, even if only by law at least 1.6 mm are required. On the other hand should be controlled if the tires have no visible damage and the tire pressure is correct. Although the battery does not contribute to the extent to driving safety at how the winter tires, but since you obviously do not want to lie to stay on this route at any minus ten degrees, includes any good winter check on the review of the battery. Both proper filling and a sufficient voltage to be controlled.
Brakes, antifreeze in the coolant and windshield wipers
The brakes also represent a very important checkpoint, because they are among the safety-related parts. The function of the brakes should be verified by means of a brake test. In addition, the pads and discs should also be subjected to a visual inspection. The brake fluid must of course also be controlled in terms of the fluid level and age. Is also very important to check whether the cooling water is still equipped with enough antifreeze. Is not that were the case, this can lead to low temperatures in engine damage. Previously lines can already tear. In the local latitude of antifreeze should extend at least down to minus 25 degrees. Another liquid that is to be controlled during the winter check is the water for the windscreen wiper system, because they also need sufficient antifreeze be present. In which connection, it should also be done at the same time, a check of the wiper rubber, because they are heavily used in the winter.
What should be checked even during winter check?
In addition to the points already mentioned, there are a few other test criteria, which should include a good winter check. This mainly includes:
– Protect interior with door lock from freezing oil: door locks
– Lighting (brake light, low beam, headlight, fog light etc.)
– Check the age and level: Engine oil –
– Body: Car washes including underbody wash with wax seal
– Accessories: spare tire, first aid kit, warning triangle, safety vest