Preparing your car for winter
Check the functionality of the air conditioning system heater. To avoid unexpectedly finding yourself in an unheated car when the first frost sets in, you should turn on the air conditioning system to heating mode before the cold weather sets in and make sure the heater is working properly.
Then, if a malfunction is detected, it will be possible to repair the air conditioning system before the first frost.
Check the rear window heating If you have not had to turn on the heating during the season to prevent the rear window from fogging up, then this operation should definitely be performed.
Minor damage to the heating element thread can be repaired using a special repair compound.
Check coolant density or replace coolant according to maintenance schedule.
The density can be used to determine the condition of the coolant and its compliance with climatic conditions. If the density is found to be low, the coolant must be replaced. A decrease in density is possible if water was added to the cooling system, causing the concentration of ethylene glycol to become lower. In summer it is not as significant as in winter. In cold weather, with a low concentration of ethylene glycol, the coolant can turn into a mushy mixture or even freeze if a large amount of water is added to the cooling system.
Check the condition of the battery.
As long as the temperature outside is above zero, the battery, even if it is discharged by 60-70%, is able to provide a stable engine start. But in severe frost, it happens that a battery charged more than 50% cannot cope. To ensure that the car does not refuse to start at the most inopportune moment, it is necessary to check the charge level of the battery, the condition of its terminals and the terminals of the power cables. To service the battery, it is necessary to remove it and charge it by connecting a charger to it, and clean the terminals and clamps before installation.
Replace the windshield washer fluid with antifreeze. This must be done if the reservoir contains water or summer washer fluid. You shouldn't try to delay changing your summer washer fluid as long as possible. Frost can strike unexpectedly, with all the ensuing consequences. It is better to start adding antifreeze to the reservoir in advance so that when frost sets in, the liquid in the washer does not freeze.
Install winter tires on the car. Tires designed for use in winter conditions have a special symbol on the side surface - a snowflake.
It is better to change tires when the average daily temperature is no higher than 5-7°C, rather than waiting for snow to fall. It is advisable to have two sets of wheels, with summer and winter tires. Then you won't have to change your tires every time. In addition, you will be able to change the wheels yourself, without having to go to a tire shop every time. Before storing wheels with summer tires, it is advisable to wash them and treat them with special tire products. It is advisable to paint over paint chips and scratches on wheel rims.
Check the condition of the mudguards, shields and anti-corrosion coating of the body. The greatest damage from corrosion occurs to the body in winter. Sand on country roads, anti-icing agents on city roads and moisture combined with frost do their job. To protect the body, it is necessary to restore damaged areas of the anti-corrosion coating, replace broken fender liners, protective shields or mudguards.
Wash the body, check the condition of its paintwork, and polish the body with a protective polish. During the summer season, pebbles flying from under the wheels of cars can damage the paint. While it is warm outside and moisture evaporates quickly, paint chips and microcracks in the paintwork do not show themselves in any way. During the winter period, corrosion will develop in these areas. Therefore, you should carefully inspect the body, having previously washed it with shampoo-polish or shampoo-conditioner.
These compounds not only clean the body, but also create a protective film on it.
Any detected areas of corrosion must be treated with a rust converter and any chips must be painted over. The execution of such work is shown in the section "Car care". In places where it is permissible (on thresholds, on the bottom and on other surfaces exposed to abrasive influences), apply an anti-corrosion compound.
Additionally, it is advisable to apply polish to the body. This will not only improve the appearance of the car, but also reduce the likelihood of moisture penetrating the metal through microcracks in the paintwork. When preparing your car body for winter, it is recommended to use special protective polishes.
Lubricate door hinges and stops, hood hinges, and trunk lid. You can generously coat the door and hood hinges with plastic grease to prevent moisture and anti-icing agents from penetrating them.
Treat the door locks with plastic lubricant. The lubricant will protect parts from moisture and prevent locks from freezing. It is advisable to use low-temperature grease so that it hardens less in the cold, making it difficult for the lock to operate.
Treat the door and trunk lid seals with a special silicone lubricant for rubber.
After treatment, moisture will not linger on the seal, and in frosty weather the seal will not freeze to the body. The same composition can also be used to treat the seals of the drop-down windows.
Blow out the radiator of the cooling system and the condenser of the air conditioning system with compressed air from a compressor or foot pump in order to remove fluff, insect remains and other debris from them. In winter, when all this is saturated with moisture and anti-icing reagents, the aluminum elements of the cooling system radiator and the air conditioning condenser will actively deteriorate in these places. Experience shows that the condenser suffers the most. It can fail within 3-4 years of operation if preventive maintenance is not performed.
Replace engine oil and oil filter according to the maintenance schedule. If there are 300-500 km of mileage left before the next engine oil change, it is better not to wait for the due date, but to replace it and the oil filter during seasonal maintenance.
Replace spark plugs according to maintenance schedule. If the time for replacement is approaching, it is advisable not to delay this work. New spark plugs will ensure stable engine starting in cold weather.
Recommendation. On a high mileage vehicle, as a preventative measure, you can add a moisture remover to the fuel (water that could accumulate at the bottom of the fuel tank during operation, especially if you had to refuel the car at unverified gas stations). Water will definitely freeze in frosty weather. Depending on where it has accumulated, the fuel line or fuel filter may be blocked, or the fuel pump may be damaged.
Preparing your car for the summer season
Install summer tires on the car. It is recommended to do this when the average daily temperature becomes higher than 7°C and frost and snowfall are no longer possible. As mentioned earlier, it is advisable to have two sets of wheels, with summer and winter tires. Wheels with winter tires must be washed and treated with special tire products before being stored. Check the tire pressure, including the spare tire, and adjust it to normal if necessary.
Check the condition of the paintwork of the car body, treat any areas of corrosion with a rust converter, and paint over any chips found.
Treat the body with polish.
Check the operation of the door locks and hinges, hood, trunk lid/door, and side door limiters. If jammed, treat with penetrating lubricant with rust converter, then cover with plastic lubricant.
Check the coolant (antifreeze) level and top it up to normal if necessary. Flush the cooling system, replace the coolant in accordance with the maintenance schedule
Check the functionality of the air conditioning system in air conditioning mode.
Replace the air conditioning filter element if the maintenance schedule is approaching. It is recommended to treat the air conditioning system evaporator with a special cleaner for car air conditioners.
Replace the brake fluid if the maintenance schedule is approaching. You should not delay the replacement. Over time, the boiling point of brake fluid decreases. In hot weather, this can lead to brake failure due to fluid boiling during intense or prolonged braking.
In summer and winter, the car, as a rule, does not require any additional maintenance operations.
In winter, when parked for a long time (more than a week) it may be necessary to charge the battery, and in frosty weather after a thaw, to treat the locks with a special defrosting solution to prevent them from freezing and remove ice.
It is recommended to regularly, at least once a month, turn on the air conditioning system regardless of the ambient temperature, so that the compressor and seals receive the required amount of lubricant.
During the period of poplar fluff fall, it may be necessary to blow out the radiator of the cooling system with compressed air to avoid engine overheating.