Give Your Vehicle Some Extra TLC for World Kindness Day

Sunday 13^th November 2022 is World Kindness Day, so as well as spreading the love to family and friends, don’t forget about giving your vehicle some extra attention. With cold temperatures and bad weather conditions to contend with throughout winter, your vehicle will benefit from some winter maintenance to stay in top condition for next year’s adventures.

Top tips for winter maintenance:

High-quality caravan covers

Caravan owners already know the importance of keeping their caravan covered with a breathable and waterproof cover throughout winter storage to prevent mould and other weather damage. However, with more extreme weather on its way due to climate change, it is even more important to invest in a high-quality caravan cover.

Tyre checks

Your vehicle service will identify when tyres are close to the minimum tread but if you have been doing a lot of miles and have been towing extra weight, your tyre tread wears down quicker. You should be checking your tread and also your tyre pressure, as over or under-inflated tyres will affect your stopping distances in rain, ice and snow. If you are towing a trailer in winter, check the tyres and you should double or triple your stopping distances, especially if going downhill.

Monitor your vehicle’s battery

In cold weather it is more common for batteries to start failing, so if you feel your vehicle is taking longer to start, you might need to replace your battery before you end up stranded somewhere.

Maximise visibility

During winter it is darker and harder to see when you are driving, so it is important to make sure your visibility is not compromised further. Check if your windscreen wiper blades need to be replaced and add a winter screenwash to help clear any ice from your windscreen.

Upgrade to more powerful bulbs

In older vehicles, you might be able to upgrade to more powerful bulbs to improve visibility.

Lubricate locks, seals and hinges

Rubber seals often get frozen in the coldest weather, so lining your seals with a rubber care stick will help to ensure you can open your doors on cold winter mornings. If your vehicle is operated by a manual key locking system, a silicone lubricant will help to prevent the lock from freezing stuck.

Switch to winter tyres

If you are driving in areas that are hilly or you will be towing during winter, it is a good idea to switch over to winter tyres for your vehicle. These tyres will give you more control of your vehicle in icy and snowy conditions.

Top up your anti-freeze

Anti-freeze prevents the water in your engine’s colling system from freezing, so it is vital that this is regularly topped up.

Listen to your brakes

If there are any issues with your brakes, you will usually know from the noises they make. Listen out for any squeaking, squealing or other unusual noises when you apply the brakes and if in doubt, take your vehicle to the garage to get checked over.

Check your towbar

You should regularly check your towbar between use and even more often in winter, as the weather conditions can cause grime and dirt to build up, as well as other issues. Give your towbar a clean and check for any wear and tear before you use your towbar.

If you need to replace your towbar, choose from the UK’s largest towbar range at PF Jones.