These top five tips could help keep you on the road this winter.
At 2am on Sunday October 30th, a day before Halloween, the clocks will go back one hour as the UK reverts to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) instead of British Summer Time (BST).
While it means you get an hour extra in bed, the time shift also heralds the official countdown to winter.
From next week on we’ll experience lighter mornings but darker evenings.
And as temperatures also start to fall, all of these conditions can have a knock-on effect for your driving experience.
This week breakdown recovery organisation GEM Motoring Assist has issued some essential easy maintenance tips, as it urges motorists that ‘prevention is always better than cure’ when it comes to a breakdown.
While your lease vehicle with Select Car Leasing will automatically be protected by free breakdown cover, following these hints will make sure you don’t end up stranded in the first place.
Meanwhile an optional, affordable ‘Maintenance’ package also makes sure you’re covered for servicing as well as the replacement of worn tyres, for maximum peace of mind through the most hazardous months. You can read more about maintaining your car in our guide on servicing and maintenance.
Battery check
Get the battery and charging system checked to ensure best performance. Cold weather puts a lot of strain on tired batteries, so consider changing it now to avoid the inconvenience of a breakdown.
If your battery seems to be turning over more slowly than usual, get it checked straight away. Similarly, if the red battery warning symbol illuminates on the dashboard, get the battery checked.
Top-up the cooling system
Ensure your car’s cooling system has the correct levels of antifreeze, which is vital to prevent the water in your engine’s cooling system from freezing.
Light the way
Make sure all the lights on your car, inside and out, are working properly. Clean them regularly to ensure they are free of dirt, so that you can see, and others can see you.
Tired tyres?
Check tyre tread depth and pressure weekly through the winter. Good tyres will ensure the safety systems on your car are as effective as possible. The legal minimum is 1.6mm but many experts recommend having a depth of at least 3mm, as this will disperse much more water from the road and will minimise your risk of skidding and losing control.
Wipers and screenwash
Check your windscreen wipers, front and rear. Make sure they are working properly and top up your screen wash regularly using cold weather washer fluid. Do not use the windscreen wipers to clear ice, as this will very quickly lead to damage.
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