Winter vehicle prep
Discussion
With the onset of winter and the anticipated drop in temperature later this week, I was just wondering what you did differently (if anything) with your cars to cope with winter? Also, do you carry anything extra in case of emergencies?
My car already has all season tyres on which coped quite well last year. Had my battery replaced last month as it was pretty weak. I’m going to be using a stronger concentrate of windscreen wash and I’m also carrying de-icer and an ice scraper. Also topped up my antifreeze.
My car already has all season tyres on which coped quite well last year. Had my battery replaced last month as it was pretty weak. I’m going to be using a stronger concentrate of windscreen wash and I’m also carrying de-icer and an ice scraper. Also topped up my antifreeze.
Depends where you are and where you're going really.
Inland Aberdeenshire here so our cars get neat screenwash from November onwards, with warm jacket, boots and a decent shovel left in the boot.
If you're getting a shovel, make sure it's worthwhile, no one is digging themselves out of a drift with one of those silly tiny folding travel shovels. Grain shovels from a farm supply store are about the best I've used.
Inland Aberdeenshire here so our cars get neat screenwash from November onwards, with warm jacket, boots and a decent shovel left in the boot.
If you're getting a shovel, make sure it's worthwhile, no one is digging themselves out of a drift with one of those silly tiny folding travel shovels. Grain shovels from a farm supply store are about the best I've used.
I leave my "winter kit" in the back of the volvo all year round.
Small holdall with a sleeping bag, blanket, waterproof, first aid kit, variety of lightbulbs, straps, bungee cords, torch, 10,000mah battery pack with variety of charging cables, mechanical tyre pump, small tool bag, 1l oil and 1l concentrate screenwash.
Plus there's always a 2l bottle of fresh water kicking about the boot for giving the dogs a drink after their walk.
If I'm feeling very prepared for bad weather or a long drive, I check the battery pack is charged before setting off.
Tyres, oil and brake fluid gets checked weekly anyway, so normal routine.
Small holdall with a sleeping bag, blanket, waterproof, first aid kit, variety of lightbulbs, straps, bungee cords, torch, 10,000mah battery pack with variety of charging cables, mechanical tyre pump, small tool bag, 1l oil and 1l concentrate screenwash.
Plus there's always a 2l bottle of fresh water kicking about the boot for giving the dogs a drink after their walk.
If I'm feeling very prepared for bad weather or a long drive, I check the battery pack is charged before setting off.
Tyres, oil and brake fluid gets checked weekly anyway, so normal routine.
Semi rural Central Scotland and whilst we've never really had "proper snow" for what feels like years, it's now rapidly heading towards that sort of 3degs, foggy, wet leaves and mud sort of nonsense. Though being fair that could describe the weather here for about 11 months of the year thus no real prep needed as I use all season tyres all year round... and bar that, use a stronger screenwash mix and put some extras bits and pieces in the cars if we're venturing further afield.
My employer has taken health and safety and their winter policy a bit too far. I was advised I should have been carrying a snow shovel, snow socks, a sack of grit, about 3 gallons of de-icer and a decent sized St Bernard since about mid September. I did protest that when this was instigated, it was actually 17degs and blue skies thus I'm sure I really don't to panic.
Also pointed out my summer based eco EV bulls
t tyres at 3mm were more of a concern given the wet / muddy / leafy weather but was told that nope, change them at 2mm and probably for some utter cheap, nasty garbage. I changed the Vredestein all seasons on my own van at 3.8mm s I was getting nervous about a bit run south in wet weather so being forced to drive on pure nonsense for work galls a bit.
And no "driving to the conditions" on semi-slick summer tyres during your average Scottish winter is not the answer here... that's as moronic as telling Gary for Slough to "walk to the conditions" as you bid him farewell on his Ben Nevis hike wearing his Addidas Sambas in January.
My employer has taken health and safety and their winter policy a bit too far. I was advised I should have been carrying a snow shovel, snow socks, a sack of grit, about 3 gallons of de-icer and a decent sized St Bernard since about mid September. I did protest that when this was instigated, it was actually 17degs and blue skies thus I'm sure I really don't to panic.
Also pointed out my summer based eco EV bulls
t tyres at 3mm were more of a concern given the wet / muddy / leafy weather but was told that nope, change them at 2mm and probably for some utter cheap, nasty garbage. I changed the Vredestein all seasons on my own van at 3.8mm s I was getting nervous about a bit run south in wet weather so being forced to drive on pure nonsense for work galls a bit. And no "driving to the conditions" on semi-slick summer tyres during your average Scottish winter is not the answer here... that's as moronic as telling Gary for Slough to "walk to the conditions" as you bid him farewell on his Ben Nevis hike wearing his Addidas Sambas in January.
Davie said:
Also pointed out my summer based eco EV bullst tyres at 3mm were more of a concern given the wet / muddy / leafy weather but was told that nope, change them at 2mm and probably for some utter cheap, nasty garbage. I changed the Vredestein all seasons on my own van at 3.8mm s I was getting nervous about a bit run south in wet weather so being forced to drive on pure nonsense for work galls a bit.
Daughter got a new EV last December and I was concerned enough about the Nexen EV tyres it was going to come on that I ordered a set of CrossClimates before it arrived. And that's for use in semi-rural Cheshire!t tyres at 3mm were more of a concern given the wet / muddy / leafy weather but was told that nope, change them at 2mm and probably for some utter cheap, nasty garbage. I changed the Vredestein all seasons on my own van at 3.8mm s I was getting nervous about a bit run south in wet weather so being forced to drive on pure nonsense for work galls a bit. Nicks90 said:
I leave my "winter kit" in the back of the volvo all year round.
Small holdall with a sleeping bag, blanket, waterproof, first aid kit, variety of lightbulbs, straps, bungee cords, torch, 10,000mah battery pack with variety of charging cables, mechanical tyre pump, small tool bag, 1l oil and 1l concentrate screenwash.
Plus there's always a 2l bottle of fresh water kicking about the boot for giving the dogs a drink after their walk.
If I'm feeling very prepared for bad weather or a long drive, I check the battery pack is charged before setting off.
Tyres, oil and brake fluid gets checked weekly anyway, so normal routine.
That "small holdall", just how small is it?Small holdall with a sleeping bag, blanket, waterproof, first aid kit, variety of lightbulbs, straps, bungee cords, torch, 10,000mah battery pack with variety of charging cables, mechanical tyre pump, small tool bag, 1l oil and 1l concentrate screenwash.
Plus there's always a 2l bottle of fresh water kicking about the boot for giving the dogs a drink after their walk.
If I'm feeling very prepared for bad weather or a long drive, I check the battery pack is charged before setting off.
Tyres, oil and brake fluid gets checked weekly anyway, so normal routine.
I treat the door / window seals twice a year with Gummi Pledge which probably counts as my winter prep.
Just a personal preference, when temp is forecast to hit 0C, I cover the windscreen overnight with the silver foil cover (one less windscreen to clear, but still have to clear the rear and side windows!)
Irrespective of season, I always carry old clothes (waterproof, soft shell jacket), wellies, walking boots, few bottles of water, and 3 x hi-vis jackets inside my daily car.
Edit to add: picnic blankets is another permanent item in my boot (together with my golf clubs, buggy, golf shoes, umbrella
)
Just a personal preference, when temp is forecast to hit 0C, I cover the windscreen overnight with the silver foil cover (one less windscreen to clear, but still have to clear the rear and side windows!)
Irrespective of season, I always carry old clothes (waterproof, soft shell jacket), wellies, walking boots, few bottles of water, and 3 x hi-vis jackets inside my daily car.
Edit to add: picnic blankets is another permanent item in my boot (together with my golf clubs, buggy, golf shoes, umbrella
)Edited by chip* on Tuesday 18th November 21:23
Lo-Fi said:
Nicks90 said:
I leave my "winter kit" in the back of the volvo all year round.
Small holdall with a sleeping bag, blanket, waterproof, first aid kit, variety of lightbulbs, straps, bungee cords, torch, 10,000mah battery pack with variety of charging cables, mechanical tyre pump, small tool bag, 1l oil and 1l concentrate screenwash.
Plus there's always a 2l bottle of fresh water kicking about the boot for giving the dogs a drink after their walk.
If I'm feeling very prepared for bad weather or a long drive, I check the battery pack is charged before setting off.
Tyres, oil and brake fluid gets checked weekly anyway, so normal routine.
That "small holdall", just how small is it?Small holdall with a sleeping bag, blanket, waterproof, first aid kit, variety of lightbulbs, straps, bungee cords, torch, 10,000mah battery pack with variety of charging cables, mechanical tyre pump, small tool bag, 1l oil and 1l concentrate screenwash.
Plus there's always a 2l bottle of fresh water kicking about the boot for giving the dogs a drink after their walk.
If I'm feeling very prepared for bad weather or a long drive, I check the battery pack is charged before setting off.
Tyres, oil and brake fluid gets checked weekly anyway, so normal routine.
MrsRNP has prepared for winter by today pinching my Cayenne as it has super toasty heated seats and steering wheel. Looks like I'm stuck with her diesel Cayenne which doesn't have them and the seats are really cold (1st world problem!)
Joking aside, my 955 is Dinitrol'd underneath, her newer 958 has been Fertan'd and sprayed with ACF50 on the subframes and suspension components. The undersides get washed weekly once salt starts getting used on the roads.
Both are running all terrain tyres.
My 955 with its centre difflock is especially unstoppable in snow!
Joking aside, my 955 is Dinitrol'd underneath, her newer 958 has been Fertan'd and sprayed with ACF50 on the subframes and suspension components. The undersides get washed weekly once salt starts getting used on the roads.
Both are running all terrain tyres.
My 955 with its centre difflock is especially unstoppable in snow!
The pickup is on winter rated all terrains that I replaced last month as the old ones were under 4mm after 40k miles, I carry a scraper/snow brush and chuck a shovel in the back. As others have said new wipers make life nicer.
I carry a tow strap in the truck with soft shackles as they’re less deadly than steel ones if something breaks.
That’s been used for rescuing a few stuck people over the last couple of winters.
If it’s properly stormy I also take a chainsaw as we live rurally down a tree lined road, in the last big storm I had to cut my way out to collect my son from nursery!
I carry a tow strap in the truck with soft shackles as they’re less deadly than steel ones if something breaks.
That’s been used for rescuing a few stuck people over the last couple of winters.
If it’s properly stormy I also take a chainsaw as we live rurally down a tree lined road, in the last big storm I had to cut my way out to collect my son from nursery!
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