Features of operating a car in winter are important knowledge for any car enthusiast. Features of car operation in winter. Winter time with frosts and unstable weather makes its own adjustments to the use of a vehicle. There are many nuances that affect the safety and efficiency of using a machine in winter.
High negative air temperatures cause all vehicle systems to operate in uncomfortable conditions. That is why it is important to prepare your car for winter use in advance. Drivers leaving their vehicle in street parking should pay special attention to preparing their vehicle for the onset of winter.
Why do you need to properly prepare your car for winter?
Severe weather conditions in winter force the driver to pre-prepare the car for their onset. Heavy snowfall, low temperatures, reduced visibility and ice all this greets drivers in winter. If you do not carry out a number of preparatory measures, it can take you by surprise and cause a lot of inconvenience.
According to statistics, the number of car accidents increases in winter. Shortened daylight hours, insufficient road lighting, poor visibility and slippery road surfaces make driving a vehicle much more difficult. Even the most experienced driver experiences discomfort and a feeling of uncertainty in such weather conditions.
The safety of every motorist is in his hands. Neglecting basic rules can lead to tragedy, because the road does not forgive mistakes and punishes very severely. Winter becomes a real test of strength for many motorists and provides an opportunity to demonstrate their skills.
Features of car operation in winter
Most of the winter is accompanied by snowfall, gusty winds, frost and ice. They do not contribute to comfortable driving and significantly worsen road safety. When operating a car in winter, you need to pay attention to the following points:
1.Manner of driving the machine.
In winter, when the road surface is covered with a crust of ice, it is very easy to cause your car to skid through careless maneuvers. This may cause it to tip over or end up in a ditch. It is necessary to forget about recklessness and speeding. The consequences can be very dire and it’s good if only the car is damaged.
The following tips will help you operate your car correctly in winter:
- it is necessary to increase the speed smoothly without sudden acceleration;
- it is necessary to reduce speed and brake in advance to avoid wheel locking and vehicle skidding;
- You should not use “neutral” to coast the car, as there is a risk of skidding;
- It is best to brake with the engine by engaging a low gear (can be used on cars with a manual transmission);
- choose the driving speed depending on external weather conditions and the condition of the road surface;
- use winter tires;
- refuel with high-quality fuel from gas stations;
- minimize the number of overtakings;
- turn on low beam.
2.Good technical condition.
A serviceable car is not afraid of snow, frost and ice. The driver behind the wheel is confident in his “iron horse” and knows that the car will not let you down. Operating a faulty car in winter is akin to suicide.
Before the onset of winter, it doesn’t hurt to stop by a car service center and check the suspension elements. Vehicle stability at speed is very important and one faulty lever can lead to tragedy.
If worn suspension elements are identified, they must be replaced. Particular attention should be paid to the levers, steering rod and CV joint. In winter, worn parts of the suspension are subjected to serious loads and do not always pass the strength test.
In winter it gets dark much earlier than in summer. It is very important to check the functionality of the dimensions, brake lights, low and high beams. Non-working car lights can cause an accident. It makes sense to check them before the start of winter and take measures to eliminate any identified faults.
Vehicle use of light increases in winter. All this leads to an increase in the load on the generator and battery. In the generator, the problem area may be the belt, which breaks at the most inopportune moment. An old, worn alternator belt must be replaced before winter.
The old battery has already seen a lot in its lifetime and has lost some of its charge. On average, battery efficiency decreases after 5 years of use. It was the battery that very often became the cause of problems with starting the engine in the morning hours in winter.
Following these simple tips will make it possible to protect yourself as much as possible from the unpleasant surprises of winter. Proper driving behavior is the key to safe and quiet driving in any weather. Improving driving discipline reduces the risk of an accident several times.
Conclusion
As you can see, a car in winter requires much more attention than in the warm season. This is due to difficult operating conditions. It’s not only cold for you, all the car’s systems work in difficult conditions for them. If you follow all the rules for winter operation of your car and treat it with care, then it will definitely not let you down on a frosty winter morning.
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How to prepare a car for winter?
Preparing your vehicle for winter is very important for the safe operation of your vehicle. A technically serviceable car is an additional trump card in the hands of the driver in the face of natural disasters and vagaries. Don’t forget about this and prepare the car in advance.
Preparing your car for winter includes the following activities:
Installing winter tires instead of summer tires.
Probably even a schoolchild knows that the summer version of tires at low air temperatures loses its elasticity and becomes “oaky”. The tire loses its ability to hold the car on the road.
Summer tires practically do not work in winter in terms of grip with the road surface. While driving, a car can skid at any moment and end up in a ditch. It is very important to promptly replace summer tires with winter tires.
Changing engine oil and filters.
It would be a good idea to change the engine oil in your car engine before the onset of frost. Many drivers change their oil twice a year. Before the onset of winter and spring.
The operation of a machine engine at subzero temperatures is characterized by an increase in the load on its working elements. Used oil becomes viscous and makes it much more difficult to start the engine. This is especially pronounced in the morning when the thermometer outside the window shows a high negative air temperature.
Be sure to replace the oil and fuel filters. The fuel filter element, especially in a diesel engine, can freeze in winter if it is heavily contaminated. This will make it significantly more difficult to start the vehicle's engine.
Preparing the battery.
The battery is one of the most important elements of the engine starting system of a modern vehicle. Prolonged negative ambient temperatures lead to a decrease in battery efficiency. It bears quite a heavy load.
If the battery is not prepared for winter, it will not be able to work for a long period of time in winter and will begin to rapidly lose charge. Constantly charging the battery will lead to a significant increase in the load on the generator.
It doesn’t hurt to check the density of the electrolyte in the battery being serviced in the fall. If it is not low, you need to add distilled water. The terminals must be cleaned of rust. This will make it possible to strengthen the contacting surface of the battery terminals.
Chemical deicing agents.
In winter, you can often encounter vehicle door locks freezing. It becomes impossible to open the locks with a key. The best option in this case is to use a universal lock defroster.
The most convenient form for use is a spray can. Using the product makes it possible to open frozen car door locks in a matter of minutes. There is no need to store it in the car; it is better to put it at home.
Recently, car window defrosters have become popular. You no longer need to wait for car windows covered with a crust of ice to thaw under the influence of warm air. It is enough to spray them on the surface of the glass and the ice will break, gentlemen of the jury. The time savings are significant.
Car washing in winter
There is a separate category of car enthusiasts who are ready to take care of the cleanliness of the car body at any time of the year. If in summer there are no problems with car washing, then in winter the situation is not so clear.
Using hot water to wash a car in winter has a destructive effect on the paintwork of the body. The temperature difference causes microscopic damage invisible to the human eye.
In a year or two they will make themselves felt by the appearance of pockets of corrosion. There is no need to experiment and test your own car for strength. Experts recommend reducing the number of car washes to a minimum level.
You can wash your car at specialized car washes. All work is carried out in a heated room and using special equipment. Differences in water and ambient air temperatures are minimal and do not have a significant impact on the strength and durability of the car's paintwork.
We must not forget that when washing a car, specialists use special detergents that have a long-lasting effect of protection against aggressive salt reagents that are actively used by public utilities on highways.
You can watch an interesting video on the peculiarities of operating a car in winter.
How to use a car in severe frosts - 7 tips
A few practical tips will help make your winter driving life easier.
Tip 1
Modern automotive chemicals must be widely used. The means here are invented for all occasions, from a lock defroster to gas that makes it easier to start the engine. They can be both preventive, which must be used in advance, and directly life-saving.
Tip 2
In winter, the car should be fully equipped with everything necessary. Nowadays, car trunks are dimensionless; everything can fit in there. In the summer it will be possible to remove it, but now it makes sense to carry a shovel, a tow rope, and even a bag of sand.
