User Tag List

Thanks Thanks:  0
Likes Likes:  0
Page 1 of 4 123 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 36

Thread: Preparing your car for winter. What do YOU do?

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1
    Regular Member Ross DTi 2.2's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Münster, NRW, Germany
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Vehicle InfoStats





    Default Preparing your car for winter. What do YOU do?

    Winter tends to bite a bit harder here than in the UK so I've been doing my usual winter prep while the weather is still good. It hasn't rained here for the last 2 weeks or so but it won't be long until the weather gets a bit worse.

    This is my winter preparation list that I have completed today:

    1. Wash car thoroughly.
    2. Wax with a wax/sealant combination product. I use Optimum Car Wax (US import).
    3. Wax wheels to protect from salt and brake dust.
    4. Grease door/boot/bonnet locks hinges and straps with LM Grease.
    5. Check engine fluids and check condition of engine bay hoses (as per weekly checks).
    6. Change concentration of screen wash.
    7. Change wiper blades and de-grease front and rear windscreen.
    8. Hoover out drains at back of engine bay and under front windscreen.
    9. Check condition of tyres, brakes and battery.
    10. Replace pollen and engine air filters.

    Here's a couple of pics of the side of my car after todays winter paint prep. I paid particular attention to the lower doors and wheels as these areas are worst affected in winter.




  2. #2
    Regular Member Harry's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Uxbridge, London
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    1 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Vehicle InfoStats





    Default

    all i do is turn the heater knob over to the red part!

  3. #3
    Regular Member Ross DTi 2.2's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Münster, NRW, Germany
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Vehicle InfoStats





    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Harry
    all i do is turn the heater knob over to the red part!
    You and 99% of other drivers Harry .

    I do this every winter, then if something does go wrong I won't be kicking myself for not bothering with simple checks that would have averted aforementioned problem.

    Check, check and check again. Something that was drummed into me in training and something I'll never forget.

  4. #4
    Regular Member JC's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Lincoln County
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Vehicle InfoStats





    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Harry
    all i do is turn the heater knob over to the red part!
    My Climate control takes care of winter.

  5. #5
    Regular Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    The Blackburn End
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Vehicle InfoStats





    Default

    Do you have to switch over to winter tyres over there ??

  6. #6
    Regular Member Swatty's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    greenock
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Vehicle InfoStats





    Default

    How often should you replace the anti-freeze, is there any way to check it is OK - percentage etc., rather than just replacing it

  7. #7
    Regular Member Ross DTi 2.2's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Münster, NRW, Germany
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Vehicle InfoStats





    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by SCOTTEX
    Do you have to switch over to winter tyres over there ??
    I'm in the Northwest part of Germany so winter tyres are not compulsory. Most people have all season tyres which have chunkier tread blocks. In Germany, if there is snow or ice on the road and you have a crash, your insurance company will not pay out unless you have winter tyres on.

  8. #8
    Ex Vec-C Admin ed taylor's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Looking Through a Camera Lens.
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Vehicle InfoStats

    Vehicle : Vectra Estate

    Trim : Elite

    Engine : 3.2 V6

    Year : 04

    Mileage : 000

    Default

    Swatty. there is a sort of hydrometer thing that you can buy [ I have one myself], you suck some of the antifreeze out of the header tank and with the one I have so many " balls "have to float for it to be the correct strenght, but I would recomend you change the antifreeze every two or three years anyway, unless it is the longlife stuff then just measure the strenght and add as accordingly.

  9. #9
    spoons
    Guest

    Default

    Winter preperation....

    - Put thick coat in boot.
    - errrr

    Winter prepared....!!

  10. #10
    Ex-Staff Full Member Ian T's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Skynet HQ EMEC#5
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Vehicle InfoStats





    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by spoons
    Winter preperation....

    - Put thick coat in boot.
    - errrr

    Winter prepared....!!

Page 1 of 4 123 ... LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Preparing my Vec to be a wedding car :)
    By Big Knox in forum Detailing and Car Care Discussion
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 9th May 2012, 18:25
  2. Preparing for Death...
    By spoons in forum General Chat
    Replies: 34
    Last Post: 23rd March 2009, 19:19
  3. Preparing calipers for painting ?
    By simac in forum Vectra C / Signum Car Chat
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 2nd December 2007, 15:38
  4. For those preparing for Valentines Day...
    By Orka The Porka in forum Comedy & Humour
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 4th February 2007, 01:37

Visitors found this page by searching for:

Nobody landed on this page from a search engine, yet!

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •