Seasonal Advice

Here, we will explore how to prepare your car for winter driving and the steps you can take to do so.

Seasonal Car Advice

Preparing your car for winter driving is essential to ensure a smooth and safe journey. With the arrival of winter, there are changes in weather and driving conditions that can affect your vehicle's performance. Taking the time to check and maintain your car can prevent breakdowns, improve fuel efficiency, and ultimately save you time and money.

Driving Tips

Preparation

Prepare your vehicle, top up your screen wash and check functioning before setting off. This includes checking that your lights are working.

Engine Oil

Check your engine oil, sufficient oil helps regulate the temperature of your engine for long journeys.

The amount of time between oil changes varies depending on a number of factors, including the type of oil you use, the make and model of your car, and your driving habits. In general, you should change your oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, or as recommended by your car's manufacturer.

If you drive in dusty or stop-and-go conditions, you may need to change your oil more often. If you use synthetic oil, you can extend the interval between oil changes. However, it is always best to consult your car's owner's manual for the specific recommendations for your vehicle.

Here are some of the factors that affect how often you should change your oil:

The type of oil you use: Conventional oil breaks down more quickly than synthetic oil, so you will need to change it more often.
The make and model of your car: Some cars require more frequent oil changes than others. Check your owner's manual for the specific recommendations for your vehicle.
Your driving habits: If you drive in dusty or stop-and-go conditions, you will need to change your oil more often. This is because the dust and debris in the air can contaminate the oil and cause it to break down more quickly.
The type of fuel you use: If you use premium fuel, you may be able to extend the interval between oil changes. This is because premium fuel contains detergents that help to clean the engine and keep the oil clean.

It is important to change your oil at the recommended intervals to keep your engine running smoothly and prevent costly repairs.

Tyre Safety

Checking the tread depth of your tyres is very important. Research indicates the most tyres on the road are either under inflated or below the legal limit of 1.6mm tread depth.

It is recommended that you check your tyres every two weeks or before you make any long journeys. We are on hand to assist you with a tyre health check should you need us to, and we can advise the correct approved tyre for your car if a replacement is required.

Check your tyre pressure

Tyre pressure can fluctuate throughout the year, especially over the colder months. To prepare your car this autumn, make sure to check your tyre pressure and adjust it as needed for the colder weather.

Rotate your tyres

Rotating your tyres helps to ensure that they wear evenly. This is especially important in winter months, if you have driven a lot on snow and ice.

Check your Tyres

As the four main contact points between you and the road, tread depth, inflation and tyre condition is essential to road safety.

Click here for more information on tyre safety

Check your fluids

Make sure to check your brake fluid and power steering fluid levels. It's also a good idea to have your coolant flushed.

Wash your vehicle

A good car wash can help to remove any dirt or grime that may have accumulated on your car during winter and help to avoid the advance of rust on your vehicle.

Check your brakes

Stop, start driving whether it be cruising around the city streets or stuck in motorway traffic takes its toll on your brakes more than the number of miles you travel.

Brake pads can wear down over time. If your brakes are squealing or making a grinding noise, it's time to have them checked by a mechanic.

Wiper Blades

Make sure your wiper blades are in good condition. They will likely have been used a lot over the winter months - if they squeak when they wipe or they are leaving streaks, they are likely to need replacing.

Travel Essentials

Keep a pack of essentials, just in case: Screen wash top-up, top-up oil, phone charger, spare tyre/tyre sealant and adblue. A blanket and torch is also advisable.

Air-Conditioning Service

Unable to achieve a comfortable temperature or de-fog your windscreen? Your car may need an air conditioning service. Regardless of mileage, it is suggested your vehicle has an air conditioning service every 2 years to ensure it is working to optimum performance. During your Air Conditioning Service, we will check for any leaks in the system to ensure the system is maintaining as much gas as possible.

Air-Conditioning Facts

Your Air Conditioning requires re-gassing

Your Air Conditioning requires regassing every 2 years as 10-15% is used before it’s even turned on.

Having your Air Conditioning re-gassed removes bacteria

Having your Air Conditioning re-gassed decontaminates your system, removes any bacteria that could potentially filter back through and be released into your car.

You should maintain your Air Conditioning

You should maintain your Air Conditioning even in the colder months as it helps demist your windows quicker.

A clean Air Conditioning system reduces emissions

A clean Air Conditioning system reduces emissions as dirty or damaged air filters reduce the air flow to the engine affecting the cars air fuel balance.

Replacing a clogged air filter can improve acceleration

Replacing a clogged air filter can increase fuel efficiency improving acceleration

Not re-gassing your Air Conditioning will leave it less efficient

Not regassing your Air Conditioning will leave it less efficient and less effective when you want to cool down or demist your windows.

Battery Maintenance

Your car battery like any other battery will discharge when not used. At cold temperatures, your batteries ability to provide sufficient power to run your vehicle will also demise therefore with the potential reduction in your vehicles use during lockdown coupled with the colder temperatures we suggest you connect your vehicle to a battery trickle charger.

Did you know?

A healthy battery should last at least 2 weeks without needing to be started up to re-charge

A healthy battery should last at least 2 weeks without needing to be started up to re-charge (this may reduce in colder temperatures), try to avoid excessive “wake-ups” of your car’s electrical system and avoid locking/unlocking or switching on the ignition without driving the car.

Once a battery has discharged beyond a level it will no longer hold a full charge and will need to be replaced

If you have any questions or issues regarding your battery, please contact your local Lloyd Service Centre who will be happy to help.

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Important Screenwash Information

It is important to ensure that you are using the correct screen wash for your car as recommended by the manufacturer. Genuine screen wash not only cleans but reduces bacteria build up in the washer jets and tanks. Should bacteria build up it could cause a blockage in the system leading to further work required.

Contact our Parts department to order the correct screen wash for your car.

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