Tips for Maintaining Your Car During the Snow and Winter Season *

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This week has seen a hell of a lot of snow all over the UK and it always gets me thinking about how we should always keep a check on our car safety during the winter months.  Like recently when we were driving to Shropshire we had an oil leak which needed a call out to get us back on the road. We hadn’t checked the car to see if all was good before we left as we just take for granted that it’ll just get us there! So I’ve whipped up my top tips of things you should check before long drives and when the winter sets in.

Check your Engine Coolant and Antifreeze
Antifreeze literally does what it says on the tin, it stops your car from freezing over when those temperatures drop. Without it, your engine can freeze, leaving you in a right tough time when it’s dangerous to be stranded. Your engine coolant just makes sure you have you have an appropriate coolant mix to keep your car ticking over nicely.

Check your Tyre Pressure and Tread Depth
Good tyres are the key to staying on the road all year round but when the weather is questionable and snow is on the way it’s best to keep an extra eye on your tread depth for your traction. You can do your part to ensure your tyres are in good shape with just a few simple steps; A quick and easy way to see if your tyre tread exceed the minimum legal tread depth is to use a 20p. Simply place the 20p coin into the main tread grooves of your tyre and if the outer band of the 20p coin is obscured when it is inserted, then your tread is above the legal limit.

Put a “Winter Supply” Box in your Car
This one is something my parents always say when we do long drives and they’re so right! A Winter Supply box is something you can leave in the boot of your car for if you break down and it’s super cold out. For me, I’d chuck in a torch, a first-aid kit, a warm blanket in case you can’t get help right away and your heaters are down, a charged power pack and wire to keep your phone on the go, an ice scraper, some de-icer and some high-energy snacks like nuts for if you get hungry. It’s so worth having those in a bag in your boot!

If your car is on it’s way out and you’re in the market for a new one check out the Cars.com Best of 2018 Awards as they have a list of some of the best cars on the market for all of your needs.