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Admittedly, winter is coming a bit late this year. While you could already build a snowman a few years ago in October, this year you were still in the pool with shorts. Still, next winter is definitely here and that's why we have the best car tips for the winter today. We are supported by our partner KUNGS, who has been helping us for years to give you advice and tips on driving in the winter. In our first post we already told you about ice scrapers, in the second post we made the car fit for the winter in autumn. But how do you deal with the beloved vehicle in winter? Today you will learn it.
If you have winterized your car thanks to our fall check, then your vehicle now rolls on suitable tires which still have a profile depth of about 4 mm. The tires should by no means be older than 10 years, you have adjusted the air pressure. You have checked the battery as well as the frost protection from the radiator and the windscreen cleaning system. You have checked the lighting device, everything works, the matching ice scraper is ready and the door rubbers are greased.
The good review and thus keep track
The car also needs some care in winter, as it is exposed to particularly nasty demands and external influences. If you have completed our “autumn check”, then you are well prepared because you now have enough windshield cleaning fluid with the appropriate antifreeze Tank. Are the windshield wipers streaking? Then they absolutely have to be replaced, this also applies to windshield wipers that have already hardened. The rubber flaps must be able to fold over for a perfect wiping result, because this is the only way to keep a clear view and overview while driving. You don't always have to buy completely new windshield wipers; on some models you can simply change the rubber. This saves money and protects the environment. Regularly refill the windshield cleaner with antifreeze, because once the nozzles are blocked, the journey quickly becomes a blind flight.
The windows fog quickly from the inside? On the other hand, it helps to clean the windows easily from the inside and to get the moisture out of the car. From KUNGS there is for example a window cleaner which also comes well into the area behind the dashboard. This eliminates the condensation from the inside of the windshield. But the other moisture must escape from the car. You can use either dehumidifier, newspaper or salt, it is best not to bring so much moisture into the car, but unfortunately that can often not be avoided in winter.
Car wash even in winter
We strongly recommend to wash the vehicle in winter. Dirty roads and the scattered salt make for a lousy layer on the car paint. At temperatures above 0 ° C, one can venture into the car wash if the vehicle, the door entrances, the folds and the window frames dry out well later. Here it is advisable to then treat the door rubber again with the appropriate means to avoid freezing. The door rubbers can be rubbed with petroleum jelly, for example, other rubber care products want to be renewed more often. The door rubber tend to break in the winter, which then ensures that moisture can enter the interior, also increases the noise level. That's why our tip: Greases the door seals regularly even in winter.
Scratches are annoying - you have to act immediately!
Small paint scratches that do not go through the body are annoying, but there is no great trade needs. Immediately you have to react but if the scratch goes to the bare metal. Here you can first with creeping oil ensure that the environmental influences and the road salt cause no worse damage. However, we recommend a quick and proper repair either by a paint job or by a smart or spot repair.
Assistless through the night
Modern vehicles are full of sensors and ensure that the assistance systems make our lives easier and safer. But in winter exactly these sensors must also be kept free of ice and snow. A camera behind the windscreen can not detect any speed limits without a clear view and also the radar sensor would like to be freed from ice and snow, as well as the sensors for the Park beeper, because otherwise misinterpretations can occur. We recommend to clean the sensors with a microfibre cloth every now and then.
The battery causes the most trouble in winter
No car battery likes cold temperatures, especially if the vehicle is only driven on short journeys, the battery is really stressed and quickly “gives up the ghost”. In this case, the car “simply” won’t start in the morning. In this case, new remains true, remove the old battery and replace it with a new one according to the manual or - if a member - have it taken over by a car service provider. He can then bring the new battery with him and also take care of returning the old battery. Batteries that are more than four years old tend to break down in winter, but this phenomenon is more likely to occur in short-distance vehicles or vehicles that are parked for long periods of time. If possible, you should take the battery into the house if you are standing for longer periods of time in winter and protect it from cold temperatures.
Car tips for the winter
When the first snow falls, chaos quickly ensues on German roads. Especially in areas where it does not snow so often brings the white splendor many drivers to despair. Too timid motorists are quickly becoming an obstacle and the danger of other road users, but this also applies to the cocky drivers who overestimate themselves and the capabilities of the vehicle thanks to all-wheel drive and sufficient traction, because you have to slow down. Overconfidence and fear are the worst companions when driving in a car, especially in winter. For this reason, we already recommended a road safety course in the last post, because the vehicle can and will react differently on icy or snow-covered roads in winter than on a dry track in summer. Driving ahead with the right speed will take everyone to the goal, paying attention to other road users, many are overwhelmed with the situation and in this case may be dispensing with your right once more, your right of way and taking some speed out. Overtaking should be avoided, especially on routes that are not easy to see. Come well through the winter, we wish you always the necessary traction and the right grip.