How to prepare your car for winter

Good vehicle does not require a "winter" training. For operation in the northern regions and cities can only recommend to carry out a number of control and verification activities and special additional training to prevent accidents. Additional training primarily includes unscheduled maintenance; it can greatly facilitate using modern means of special chemistry and operational materials.

Of great importance in winter operation of a vehicle has a battery repair. If the "age" is installed on the vehicle battery is 2-3 years, in anticipation of winter it is enough to wash the outside, clean the terminals and fully charged (if the vehicle is continuously operated in the city, the battery far from nominal).

According to experts, the average "full of life" of the battery is about 3 years.

Buy the battery is currently not a problem: The store offers a large number of brands and models. What kind of battery to choose - a private matter. It should be noted that the market is now possible to allocate two price groups: batteries valued at over $ 60 (normally $ 100), such as Bosch, Steco, American, Fiamm, and for under $ 60 (Mutlu, Inci, Centra, SAEM, etc. ).

Higher prices of batteries of the first group due to improved production technology. These batteries are generally classified as non-performing. Special types of electrolytes and tight execution of such batteries increase their resources and provide high traction currents guaranteeing cranking the engine even at strong frosts. Leading manufacturers now mandatory use technology packaging plate, thereby avoids a short circuit of the battery in the event of their destruction.

Cheaper batteries require periodic maintenance, consisting in checking the density of the electrolyte and the measurement of its level.

When choosing the battery, note the following parameters:

- Capacity Ah. In accordance with the instruction manual, it should be 55 Ah. Allowed to use batteries with a capacity of 45-60 Ah. Too little capacity would create problems with the "winter" start the engine at too high - the generator does not provide a full charge of the battery and its lifetime greatly reduced;

- Current discharge starter, A (according to DIN 43 539). The higher the value, the better, especially in the winter operation. This ensures that the starter will turn the crankshaft with a fairly high speed, and if the engine does not let the first try, you will have the chance to do the second and third.

When buying a battery different from regular, pay attention to its size and location of terminals: buy a battery of the same polarity as the old one, or the wires of your car may not reach the terminal.

The density of the electrolyte of the battery fully charged may differ from the face no more than 0.02 g / cm ³ (tab. 15.1).

Table 15.1 The temperature correction to the hydrometer when measuring the density of the electrolyte

The most accurate state of charge of the battery on the density of the electrolyte can be determined by measuring it at a temperature of 25 ?� C (tab. 15.2).

Table 15.2 The density of the electrolyte at 25 ?� C, g / cm ³

When checking the battery of special loading plug built voltmeter readings should be 12,5-12,9 V when the load is off and does not fall below 11 V at a load for 10 seconds. Such a battery will be a long and reliable.

If the battery is discharged at a still unsuccessful starts, you can use the cable for the "Booster" with contact clamps type "crocodile". When buying is better to choose cables with a heavy load (200 A).

Using a less viscous winter motor oil facilitates cold start the engine. International Classification SAE J300 contains six classes of winter oils. The designation of "winter" is the letter of classes W (winter - winter).

The moderate climate is permissible to use the winter season (Universal) motor oils, get now widespread (tab. 15.3).

When buying oil, particularly imported, should be wary of fakes, so it is best to purchase oil in specialized stores, providing certificates for goods.

Table 15.3 Specifications of winter oils

The engine cooling system of your car uses a special low-freezing liquid - antifreeze (aqueous alcohol, glycol, glycerol and inorganic salts with the addition of special additives).

Often, the power supply system is the cause of poor performance of the engine in winter. And all of the accumulated water in the tank of the condensate. Almost all the leading manufacturers of auto chemical goods (STP, Loctite, Wynns, Aspokem) offer products poured into the fuel tank. They gradually purify the power supply system. It is advisable to replace the filter of thin clearing of fuel and ensure cleanliness and engine nozzles.

Before the onset of winter do not forget the high-voltage wires. After a couple years of driving on roads treated with anti-icing agents, it is desirable to replace, it is best to cables with silicone sheath, which are less sensitive to temperature changes. Furthermore, they do not frost is formed, which is often the cause of lack of spark. Banal cause problems in the ignition system can be corroded or bad tighten the battery terminals.

Instructions prescribes replace the spark plug every 10 thous. Km. But, given the experience of carrying out repair work, it is better to do it through the 5 th. Km, or more often if the car is very intense operated in a major city or petrol of dubious quality. It is best to use a spark plug of foreign manufacturers, such as NGK, Champion, and others, permitted for use in the engine of your car.

In winter, the use of the vehicle body is most exposed to corrosion, so its anti-corrosion treatment is highly desirable. However, according to some employees of authorized service stations, a number of new foreign cars, especially with galvanized body, the factory processing is sufficient.

Anti-corrosion treatment requires strict observance of technology, and although almost all manufacturers of protective materials let them into the packaging for domestic use, still preferable to carry out processing in a specialized service center. It is necessary to find out in advance, on what technology it is carried out. In any case, before applying the protective coating on the underside of the arch and the machine must be cleaned of dirt, washed and dried thoroughly.

Winter operation, especially in the "salted" the streets of big cities, greatly enhances the corrosion of parts of the body. Regular cleaning is required in winter, when the machine is stored outdoors, and is strictly necessary on a daily basis, if the machine is kept in a warm garage. Water washes away the salt well, and a layer of wet mud for a long time to dry, increasing the harmful effects of salt on the body paint. In extreme cases, wash the car in the thaw, and cooling to wash and wipe dry, ideally - dry in a warm room. Before the start of winter operation is required to spend an additional anti-corrosion treatment of the body. This treatment is best carried out in a specialized service station with special protective equipment and technologies. Anti-corrosion treatment is of two kinds: the processing of the bottom and hidden body cavities and body paint handling. The latter can easily do yourself. It includes washing, drying and processing of special protective structures based typically wax or silicone. If the processing of the body you will find deep scratches, treat bare metal rust converter (modifier).

Optional plastic wheel arch liners reduce abrasion of corrosion-resistant coating on the inside of the wings, but not qualified to install them can form poorly ventilated cavity between the wing and the fender liner, which because of the penetration of moisture will have additional corrosion centers.

The right choice of tires for use in winter allows you to improve road safety. Operation of the car in winter on summer tires is extremely dangerous and therefore not allowed. Tyres designed for use in the winter time, the tread pattern can be divided into the European type (tread pattern consists of separate drafts or checkers, connected to a rib) and Scandinavian type (tread pattern with a large distance between the small pieces, that allows you to clear a spot contact of loose snow).

When driving in the winter in a city where traffic is most often encountered snow and salt porridge than hard-packed snow or ice, it is better to use winter tires without studs: they are lighter and smaller compared with studded tires rolling resistance.

On the eve of winter, check wipers, air cooling and heating of glasses - they are undamaged.

Faulty wiper, leaving on glass matte strips, reducing not only the comfort of travel, but also the safety of the driver. By purchasing the wiper blades, try to choose a brush recommended by the manufacturer, and meet the following requirements:

- Efficiently and uniformly purified by various types of pollution covered by the entire surface of the windshield glass and the tailgate;

- Have sufficient abrasion resistance;

- When the brushes on the surface of the glass must not be scratched.

In the context of the winter operation of the car you can buy a special brush, and rocker joints are protected from freezing rubber cover.

In preparing the vehicle for use in winter should be carefully inspect the windshield. In the first frost of autumn, after the rain, even a small stone chip on the windscreen turns into a full-fledged crack. Existing technologies of repair allow to eliminate similar defect without removing the glass. It is easier and cheaper than replacing the glass.

Another "winter" problem - misting. When a working ventilation system is rare, however, we advise you probresti special liquid defogger, which is enough to put on the glass once a week.