As summer comes to an end and colder, wetter weather sets in, it’s important to look after your motor accordingly.
Preparing your vehicle for the winter months now can mean that you save time and money.
WINTER CAR CARE: THE BASICS
One of the most essential things to keep an eye on in your vehicle is the oil, and this is always the place to start for winter care. If your oil is sludgy, or the level is low, this can cause your engine to be inefficient. Top up or drain your oil level as required and you will see benefits in the long-term.
Headlights are another area to check before the evenings and nights get darker. If one of your headlights has been on the blink or is dull and could do with replacing, then it’s best to get it done before it impairs your night driving.
TAKING CARE IN THE COLD
Your vehicle, like a lot of machines, performs differently in prolonged cold conditions as it puts extra strain on the engine. One way you can avoid adding to this is by not moving heavy loads until your engine has had chance to warm up.
Another engine care top tip for cold weather months is to never rev the engine while it’s cold. In these conditions, oil takes longer to reach the moving parts and revving will increase wear rates and also waste fuel.
TIRED TYRES
During the winter, tyre pressures will reduce as the outside temperature drops and so it’s important to check them more frequently. Running under-inflated tyres will also cause you to have less grip on the road.
Although the minimum legal tread depth is 1.6mm, tread that has fallen to below 2.0mm will have seriously reduced grip in wet conditions.
Want more? Read about taking care of your engine here.
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Whether it’s your own commercial vehicles you’re looking after or stock for your motor trade business, Tradesure have insurance options to ensure your business is protected. Send us a message below and we’ll get in touch to give you a competitive motor trade insurance quote.
