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Think of this guide as a whistle-stop tour through our top car maintenance tips for Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn; so, you’re best prepared for the potential obstacles that come your way whatever the weather.
While here in the UK we often see a warmer start to the autumnal season, it’s during this time that it’s best to start preparing for the colder days and nights ahead.
The biggest tip we can give you at this point is to check that your tyres at least meet the minimum standards as set by law.
In the UK, car tyres' legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm across 75% of the surface area. This means that, when measured from the central tread line in the direction of travel, three-quarters of the tyre's surface must maintain a consistent depth of 1.6mm.
As we start to see heavier rainfall, another great tip for car maintenance is to check, and potentially replace, your wiper blades. Having clean windscreen wipers improves visibility which is vital for car safety.
We’ve written before about driving safely in winter weather, but didn’t go into maintenance detail.
Check your battery during winter as the vehicle's electrical systems face a greater workload due to the increased usage of headlights and heating compared to the warmer months. Additionally, starting a cold engine requires more power from the starter motor and as a result, the car's battery experiences heightened strain due to this escalated demand leading to more battery failures in the winter months.
An important maintenance tip to remember is to check and adjust tyre pressure, as every 10°C rise or fall in temperature affects a tyre's pressure by between 1 and 2 PSI. In addition, cold weather means less tyre pressure than hot weather. Lower pressures increase the amount of tyre in contact with the road which increases fuel consumption.
Spring can bring with it an interesting mix, one day it’s snowing then another day is practically tropical; much like autumn you should use these few months to prepare for the next “extreme” in weather conditions expected in summer.
The harsh weather from wintery days could leave your headlights murky from road salt and debris, use this time for a deep “spring clean” for your car’s interior and exterior with special attention on the lights for better visibility.
Remember to check and adjust tyre pressure based on the weather, the change in your tyre pressure from summer to winter can be up to a 15% difference.
Ah summer is here, and the sun is out (hopefully), your car is going strong but there are a couple of key points to car maintenance in the summer we’d like to go through.
First and foremost, you should check all components of the cooling system. The radiator, coolant, belts, hoses, water pump and cooling fans all play key roles in keeping your engine’s temperature under control. A bad radiator core or worn hoses and belts can lead to overheating and major engine damage.
Get your air conditioning checked. Trust us, it’s hard enough being stuck in gridlocked traffic let alone with having no air conditioning! There are many signs that your system is not working properly, such as a rattling noise, damp smell, or your fuel economy dropping suddenly when turning your car air conditioning on, which are easy to pick up on. In addition, having your air con repaired can lead to you saving fuel on those longer journeys.
At Williams BMW, for example, an Air Conditioning Refresh starts from just £39.99
Being proactive and ensuring your vehicle is prepared to tackle the challenges that accompany the changing seasons is the key to effective car maintenance.
Talk to our passionate team at Williams who will be able to give advice on every day maintenance, or provide a solution for those more technical jobs.
