Driving in winter with adverse weather conditions

Driving in winter with adverse weather conditions

Driving in winter with the adverse weather conditions we are having at the moment and longer periods of darkness can make driving and your journey more hazardous. We would recommend that if the weather is really bad that you avoid driving completely, unless you absolutely have to make the journey and driving is the only option.
There are a few things everyone can do to help make their winter driving trouble free. Something that is often overlooked these days is servicing, especially on the run up to Christmas when funds may be tight. It is however, a really good idea to have the anti-freeze tested and your vehicle fully serviced before the onset of winter especially if it hasn’t been done for a while.

A few simple checks below can greatly reduce the chance of a breakdown, as well as potentially making your car easier and less stressful to drive in ice and snow.

  • Oil, antifreeze, brake fluid, screen wash – check and top up all levels including screen wash (to the correct concentration to prevent it freezing).
  • Tyres – do they all look in good condition? Check the tread depth and adjust all tyre pressures including the spare (if you have one).
  • Lights – are they all clean and working?
  • Battery – is it fully charged?
  • Wiper blades, check condition and replace if necessary.
  • Windscreen and windows – are they all clean? Something to clean the screen is worth carrying, it’s amazing how much more you can see once you’ve done it.

A little squirt of WD 40 in door keyholes stops locks freezing up in this very cold weather.

We would also recommend if you are driving some distance from home or making a long journey that you keep an emergency kit in your car. Items to include should be: a fully charged mobile phone, tow rope, shovel, wellington boots, a hazard warning triangle, de-icing equipment, a first aid kit, a torch (check the battery), car blanket, warm clothes and emergency rations (including a hot drink in a flask). It may seem a bit excessive but if your car breaks down and you are stuck for hours waiting for assistance you’ll be thankful you did!

If you need any further help or advice with your vehicle checks or the above seems too much or too difficult to do,  please contact us at Frey Clement Chiswick on 020 8994 0253 to book an appointment and we will do it for you.

 

Second-hand tyre with repaired sidewall

TYRES, what are they worth?

They are your only contact with the road surface!

How do you choose a replacement when needed? Top brand, mid range budget?
Some may even opt for second-hand?

Please don’t. We believe they represent poor value for money and may even cost you your life. With a new tyre you have a comeback in the event of any defect. Used tyres have an unknown history, and maybe have run under or over inflated. This can lead to weakening of the tyre’s structure, which could lead to premature tyre failure, often happening with little or no warning!

An example below is a second-hand tyre bought by a customer recently with a repaired sidewall which will be most likely to blow at motorway speeds. Frightening!

Our advice would be to purchase the best possible tyre appropriate for your vehicle, budget and usage. If you are unsure what to buy, please call us at Frey Clement in Chiswick. We’re happy to help.

Second-hand tyre with repaired sidewall

Leaves and debris

Spring car maintenance advice from Frey Clement

After this amazing spring bank holiday weekend, better weather is hopefully here to stay!

Now is the time to give your car a thorough clean. Give it a good pressure wash to all areas to remove any winter grime and more importantly road salt.

Any areas like in the picture need to be cleared and ensure that all drainage areas are free from debris.

Leaves and debris

If water cannot drain away it will find its way into all kind of places that it should not be. Many expensive electrical components are damaged beyond repair after suffering from water ingression. Don’t let this happen to you!

Another maintenance factor often overlooked is servicing of air con. systems which is not part of a standard service. If your car has one and you haven’t had this done separately in the last two years, your vehicle will definitely be due for routine maintenance. A percentage of refrigerant is lost from your vehicle’s air conditioning system each year which then allows for a build-up of fungus and bacteria. You may notice a peculiar smell coming through the vehicle’s air vents and that can sometimes lead (in extreme cases) to an allergic reaction. Air con. systems that are not fully re-charged put more strain on the engine, which consequently uses more fuel whilst running.

Here at Frey Clement we have the latest air-conditioning technology, Eco 3000. Our air-conditioning service includes:

  •  Removal of all gas from the air conditioning system
  •  System vacuumed and then checked for leaks
  •  Lubricating oil and dye added
  •  System re-filled with new gas & output temperature checked in line with manufacturers’ recommendation

For more information on this service see: https://www.freyclement.co.uk/air-conditioning/

If you need any further help or advice with your vehicle checks or your air-conditioning needs servicing, please contact us on 020 8994 0253 for help or to book an appointment.

Air con maintenance includes climate control systems, gas removal and replacement, cleaning, checks and repair.