Car Driving in Freezing Temperatures

[#1]

With the forthcoming freezing weather over the next few days, I re-read chilly willy thread, and also did a bit of Internet Browsing.

The one thing I will do tomorrow, whilst it's still relatively warm is top up all the car washer bottles with screen wash concentrate to cope with  freezing & below temperatures.

Also, it is apparently bad advice to start your car engine & just let it idle for perhaps 15 minutes to warm up, as initially the unburnt fuel can wash oil from the pistons etc

The best advice seems to be start car engine, and then go for a gentle drive for 15 minutes or so, this enables the engine & other components to properly warm up.

And defrost car windows thoroughly before you start the engine..... so you can quickly depart..

And........... be wary of applying handbrake during really cold weather, the brake pads may freeze onto the discs / drums.

I have had this happen in the past !!

 And don't wash your car day before  freezing weather, you will find the doors freeze shut !!

Best advice of all..... keep your car in a garage !

I am sure there is lots of good advice to be had from other posters !!

(No doubt including don't use the car at all, stay indoors & keep warm.)

Or use Taxis, they arrive nicely warmed up, and if bashed, not your problem...

[#2]

OK..

Checked I actually had some screenwash concentrate !

I did, but not much.

Halfords.. online.. ordered click & collect 5 litres -10ºC concentrate for pickup tomorrow 9am....

[#3]

No mention of using the hairdryer on the frozen water pipes..........

[#4]

A hair dryer? Is that another name for a towel?

[#5]

[#6]

And if all else fails, don't forget your snow shoes...

[#7]

I use the air conditioning/climate control more in the winter than the summer to demist the windows.

I know it uses more petrol but its well worth it.

A friend was complaining  his new car a Toyota was always misting up when he was only using the heating  he now uses the air conditioning problem solved

[#8]

Use some vasillene (sp?) on the door seals, then they will never freeze shut, add some to the batter terminals as well to prevent corrosion.

[#9]

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8BKA wrote:

I use the air conditioning/climate control more in the winter than the summer to demist the windows.

I know it uses more petrol but its well worth it.

A friend was complaining  his new car a Toyota was always misting up when he was only using the heating  he now uses the air conditioning problem solved

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My Jazz aircon has a Windscreen demist button, where at high speed most of the dry aircon air is diverted to the windscreen.

Just takes a few seconds to demist.

Great for a top-up whilst driving, just press one button.

Windscreen demist is of course available via a selector on other cars, but you have to look at the control to enable it, and disable it afterwards.

[#10]

-5.5ºC overnight last night.

I think a good run is due to fully charge up the Jeep battery.

Lots of short journeys yesterday, doing my bit for the Community & local Health care.

There is a large Tesco Superstore about 12 miles away, (Hattersley) with a covered car park, ideal as a destination in this icy, snowy, slushy weather.

You can park in the dry, no worries about walking on icy surfaces, and walk straight into the store, all undercover.

As it is, later on this morning the temperature is forecast around 2ºC, and with gritters about, getting there should cause no problems.

[#11]

I cheated and got an Electric car. I can get it all toasty and clear whilst it's still plugged in - and it only costs me £4 for 200 miles range