Winter coming? Then it is high time to check your car and make sure it is ready for the upcoming harsh winter period. Staying indoors during periods of snow and sleet is always better, but sometimes you have to take the car once on the road. Prepare your car very well for the winter and take care of a winter service. Check the windshield washer fluid, make sure the doors are not jamming, check your battery and buy winter tires if necessary. The winters in the Netherlands and Belgium are not very severe, but this does not stop anyone from preparing their car for winter in time. A winter turn is therefore not an unnecessary luxury.
Check the windscreen washer antifreeze
An ordinary windshield washer fluid can immediately freeze as soon as the fluid comes into contact with one of your car windows. It is therefore recommended to use windscreen washer antifreeze. Also always check if there is still enough liquid. Using plain water is not recommended.
Checking the battery
A broken battery often occurs in the winter months. After all, these cannot withstand the cold well. You need to replace a battery after about five years. On most batteries there is a light that indicates whether the battery is still in good condition. With a voltage meter you can check whether there is still enough voltage on the battery. A voltage of approximately 14 volts is desired. If the value is much lower, then there is a good chance that something is wrong with the battery. Short journeys (less than half an hour) by car are not good for the battery. The battery cannot reach temperature in this way and charging is impossible or limited. In the long term, this battery will cause problems and there is a chance that you will have an empty battery in the morning.
Provide winter-proof coolant
The coolant must be able to withstand the cold temperatures in the winter period. If you are not sure that this is the case for your car, then you would do well to visit your garage. They can check this for you and at the same time check whether your car is ready for the winter period. You should never top up the coolant with water. After all, it is possible that the water block tears, due to the expansion of frozen water.
Check out the possibility of winter tires
Winter tires are not a luxury, even if you do not go abroad on a snow holiday. They can also come in handy in Belgium and the Netherlands. Winter tires have more grip on the road, because they have more grooves and lugs than summer tires. This way they can drain more water, which is of course very useful if you have to drive through the snow or on slippery roads. With second-hand winter tires, you have to make sure that the profile is deep enough. Be well aware that winter tires only reduce the risk of accidents. You always have to pay close attention and adapt your driving behavior to the road and weather conditions. You can recognize winter tires by the letters M + S or an image of a snow flake.
Test your snow chains
When mounting the winter tires, you can test the snow chains at the same time. Also make sure you know very well how to install the snow chains. It would be a shame that you no longer know how to install the snow chains when there is a lot of snow and you absolutely need them.
Winterizing the car: make sure that the doors are not pinched
It is quite possible that your door will freeze, preventing you from opening it. You can prevent this by spraying lock defroster in the door locks on a regular basis. Remember to keep the lock defroster outside of your car. After all, a lock defroster in your car is of no use if you cannot enter it yourself because the lock has frozen.
Remove the asterisks from the windshield
It is best to have a crack or an asterisk in your window removed before the winter period arrives. When it gets colder, the car windows also get heavier. When the window cools down sharply and at the same time is heated from the inside, the chance that an asterisk will crack is greater. Damage greater than 1 centimeter is irreparable. A new window will then be installed.
Ensure optimal visibility in winter
Visibility for the driver is very important, especially in the dark and cold winter months. There are a few tips to keep the view optimal in all circumstances. Sunglasses with polarizing lenses can help when the sun is low. Regularly wipe the windows on the inside of the car, as well as the inside of the door mirror. It is also useful to check that all the lights on the dashboard are on. This way you are always assured of light during the dark winter days.
Other supplies in the winter
Always have a number of supplies in your car.
- Window Scraper: This is useful for removing snow and ice from your windows. Also consider a squeegee to remove the excess moisture from your windows.
- Chamois: this can be used to wash the inside of your windows.
- Windscreen screen: you put this over the windscreen in the evening, and in the morning your window is still completely clean and not frozen.
- Flashlight: A flashlight can be useful in the dark winter days to provide you with light.