15 winter life hacks and tips that will help the driver in the cold season
In winter, the requirements for vehicle maintenance and operation become more stringent. Due to snow, ice and frost, driving becomes more difficult and other problems arise. The following life hacks will help you avoid many troubles.
Antifreeze liquid in large containers or in bulk is cheaper, but if it turns out to be of poor quality and freezes, then there will be no savings. Take one jar. If the liquid in it turns out to be bad, it won’t be so offensive.
Before frost, lubricate door locks and rubber seals with silicone. This will eliminate the problem of the door freezing. If you missed this moment and freezing happened, then try opening the other doors to get into the salon. At least one of them will definitely give in.
If you store the brush in the cabin, then when you open the door, snow from the roof will fall onto the carpet and seat. When you put it in the trunk, then you can sweep the car, and snow will no longer get into the cabin.
If you need to park your car for a long time in cold weather, open the interior doors for a couple of minutes. When it cools down, the snow on the windshield will not melt and then turn into an ice crust.
When you turn off the ignition, turn off the wipers. If they freeze, then in the morning when you start the car, their drive may fail, since they will be fixed. If possible, install frameless wipers; they resist icing better.
If, when the weather changes, you apply the handbrake while the pads are hot, there is a possibility that they will freeze. You need to wait a couple of minutes for them to cool down and then use the parking brake. When there is no time, it is better to simply engage first gear, but only if the car does not have auto start.
When it snows, brush snow off your shoes before getting into the car. If this is not done, moisture will cause the glass to fog up. Wet carpets cause corrosion of the underbody; in addition, due to moisture in the spring, an unpleasant odor will appear in the cabin. To combat fogging, you can use toilet paper. It very quickly absorbs condensation from glass and mirrors.
If you have to start in fresh snow or on ice, it is better to do it in second gear. This makes it easier to control wheel slip. When starting to drive in deep snow or downhill, you can use first gear, and once moving, immediately switch to second. If you have an automatic transmission, then choose manual mode.
On a slippery section of the road, you should not let off the gas so as not to skid.In winter, try not to drive in neutral at all. On slippery roads you should brake using impulse movements. If you simply hold down the brake, the car will skid. It is also safe to slow down the engine by shifting to lower gears.
You need to turn smoothly, and the main thing is not to change gears when cornering. Keep your distance from other cars, and do everything smoothly. A right turn is more dangerous than a left turn, because if something happens, the car is thrown not onto the side of the road, but into the oncoming traffic. Turn very carefully.
On a slippery road, it is difficult for drivers to stop the car in a timely manner, so warn them about this in advance before any maneuvers. If you need to turn and the car behind you is too close, it is better to turn into the next driveway. You'll spend an extra couple of minutes, but you'll avoid a collision.
If you cannot move in deep snow, clear it from under the wheels with a shovel. You can also carry cat litter with you. He will help you out if you can't get going. The filler absorbs moisture and hardens quickly, giving the wheels the necessary grip.
All light bulbs, especially turn signals and stop lights, must be cleared of snow. Otherwise, the risk of getting into an accident increases.
Remove accumulated snow from mudguards in the evening. If it freezes, it will catch the wheels when turning in the morning. This often breaks the fender liner, and ice can even damage the bumper.
The tire pressure should be the same. If road grip is poor, then you can lower the tires to 1.6-1.8 atm.This will help out on ice and deep snow. When driving onto asphalt, the pressure must be raised to normal.
Never buy antifreeze in bulk in large containers
Antifreeze liquid in large containers or in bulk is cheaper, but if it turns out to be of poor quality and freezes, then there will be no savings. Take one jar. If the liquid in it turns out to be bad, it won’t be so offensive.
Lubricate rubber seals and locks
Before frost, lubricate door locks and rubber seals with silicone. This will eliminate the problem of the door freezing. If you missed this moment and freezing happened, then try opening the other doors to get into the salon. At least one of them will definitely give in.
Store a snow brush in the trunk
If you store the brush in the cabin, then when you open the door, snow from the roof will fall onto the carpet and seat. When you put it in the trunk, then you can sweep the car, and snow will no longer get into the cabin.
Cool down the interior before parking
If you need to park your car for a long time in cold weather, open the interior doors for a couple of minutes. When it cools down, the snow on the windshield will not melt and then turn into an ice crust.
Don't leave your wipers on
When you turn off the ignition, turn off the wipers. If they freeze, then in the morning when you start the car, their drive may fail, since they will be fixed. If possible, install frameless wipers; they resist icing better.
Do not apply the parking brake if the brake pads are hot.
If, when the weather changes, you apply the handbrake while the pads are hot, there is a possibility that they will freeze. You need to wait a couple of minutes for them to cool down and then use the parking brake. When there is no time, it is better to simply engage first gear, but only if the car does not have auto start.
Keep your car away from moisture
When it snows, brush snow off your shoes before getting into the car. If this is not done, moisture will cause the glass to fog up. Wet carpets cause corrosion of the underbody; in addition, due to moisture in the spring, an unpleasant odor will appear in the cabin. To combat fogging, you can use toilet paper. It very quickly absorbs condensation from glass and mirrors.
In snow and ice, it is better to start in second gear
If you have to start in fresh snow or on ice, it is better to do it in second gear. This makes it easier to control wheel slip. When starting to drive in deep snow or downhill, you can use first gear, and once moving, immediately switch to second. If you have an automatic transmission, then choose manual mode.
Don't let off the gas on ice
On a slippery section of the road, you should not let off the gas so as not to skid.In winter, try not to drive in neutral at all. On slippery roads you should brake using impulse movements. If you simply hold down the brake, the car will skid. It is also safe to slow down the engine by shifting to lower gears.
Be doubly careful when turning right
You need to turn smoothly, and the main thing is not to change gears when cornering. Keep your distance from other cars, and do everything smoothly. A right turn is more dangerous than a left turn, because if something happens, the car is thrown not onto the side of the road, but into the oncoming traffic. Turn very carefully.
Warn about maneuvers in advance
On a slippery road, it is difficult for drivers to stop the car in a timely manner, so warn them about this in advance before any maneuvers. If you need to turn and the car behind you is too close, it is better to turn into the next driveway. You'll spend an extra couple of minutes, but you'll avoid a collision.
Carry a shovel
If you cannot move in deep snow, clear it from under the wheels with a shovel. You can also carry cat litter with you. He will help you out if you can't get going. The filler absorbs moisture and hardens quickly, giving the wheels the necessary grip.
Lighting fixtures must be clean
All light bulbs, especially turn signals and stop lights, must be cleared of snow. Otherwise, the risk of getting into an accident increases.
Keep mudguards clean
Remove accumulated snow from mudguards in the evening. If it freezes, it will catch the wheels when turning in the morning. This often breaks the fender liner, and ice can even damage the bumper.
Monitor your tire pressure
The tire pressure should be the same. If road grip is poor, then you can lower the tires to 1.6-1.8 atm.This will help out on ice and deep snow. When driving onto asphalt, the pressure must be raised to normal.
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