Winter motoring tips

Winter motoring brings with it increased driving risks as well as placing greater demands on your car due to the cold wet conditions.A bit of attention to forward planning and preventative actions can help to make your winter motoring safer and more enjoyable.

The following information is of a general nature only. For specific advice relating to your particular vehicle please contact our friendly service advisors on

9372 3000 or email usand they will be only to happy to assist .

Engine

Cold weather brings with it extended engine warm up times that coupled with the tendency to "take the car" instead of a short walk to the shops, means results in the engine spending an abnormal amount of it's running time operating at less than optimum temperature.

This can lead to an increase in oil pollution resulting in a reduction of its lubricating properties thus creating a potential for increase engine wear.

Short running and stop-start driving, is considered to be a harsh environment and as a result reduced engine oil and filter change periods are often recommended by manufacturers to compensate. Refer to your vehicle servicing handbook for harsh conditions recommendations specific to your vehicle.

Tyres

Even with good tyres, wet roads result in longer stopping distances due to reduced tyre grip on the wet road surfaces.

If the tread on your tyres is worn low or they are under-inflated, it significantly decreases the tyre's ability to disperse water from the tyre and road surface. This greatly increases the chances of aquaplaning (The tyres riding up on the water and losing contact with the road) resulting in total loss of control.

Always ensure that your tyres have good tread depth and are inflated to their correct pressure.Refer to your owner handbook or the tyre placard inside the driver's door opening to find the correct pressures for your car.

Headlights

Dark winter nights, road grime and rain, bring with them a significant reduction in visibility, affecting both the ability to see and be seen.

Check that all lights are operating, are of even brightness and the lenses clean.Also ensure that your headlights have been aimed correctly as the winter dirt and grime on windscreens can cause them to become almost opaque when faced with misaligned headlights of an oncoming vehicle.

Battery

Cold temperatures greatly reduce the amount of power that a battery can provide.

A battery that has been performing perfectly well during the summer months can suddenly fail when subjected to cold temperatures and leave you stranded.Ensure that your battery is in good condition, that the terminals are clean and tight and the vehicle charging system is operating correctly.If your battery is over 3 years old, it might be a good idea to have it properly tested, particularly if your vehicle is to be exposed to particularly cold temperatures or if you propose to travel in cold remote areas such as snow fields.

Wiper Blades

To ensure maximum visibility and safety, windscreen wiper blades should be carefully inspected for damage or poor cleaning ability prior to winter.

Oil and road grime get thrown up from wet winter roads by other vehicles. This road grime is abrasive and will quickly damage wiper blades on cars that are operated under these conditions rendering them useless for efficient cleaning.

Always add a good windscreen washer additive when refilling your washer bottle, and have a spare supply of additive available to use when topping up the washers.Do not use water alone, as it doesn't have the same cleaning, oil dispersant, anti-freeze or wiper blade lubricating properties as a specially formulated windscreen washer additive.Never use ordinary household detergent as it will severely damage your vehicle's paint work as well as the windscreen washer system.

If you are unsure which type of washer additive is best for your car, consult you Mazda Service Dealer.A heavy build up of ice such as would be experienced in alpine conditions, should be removed with a window scraper before attempting to operate the windscreen wipers.

Exhaust System

As most winter driving is done with the windows wound up, it is vitally important to make sure that your exhaust system is free from leaks.A leaking exhaust system can cause a build-up of toxic carbon monoxide exhaust gas. In the closed passenger compartment, this can lead to an accident due to drowsiness or in extreme cases, death due to asphyxiation.

If your exhaust system is sounding noisier or different than usual, you should have it checked by your Mazda Dealer for leaks immediately.Don't be fooled into thinking that it's only old cars that are likely to have a leaking exhaust system. Exhaust leaks can occur on relatively new cars, as a result of under-body damage such as that caused by running over an object on the road or running over or reversing into a curb or something similar.

Anti-freeze

Over time, the anti-freeze properties of your cooling system can deteriorate due to age or dilution as a result of regularly topping up the radiator with water.

If you are intending to stay overnight in the snowfields during winter it is absolutely essential that you have your cooling system checked and the coolant concentration checked. For most cars the concentration should normally be between 45% and 55%.

Consult you dealer for the correct Anti-freeze concentration for your vehicle and operating conditions.Incorrect coolant concentrations can result in very serious damage to the engine or cooling system components.Cooling system hoses and clamps should be checked for damage or deterioration.

Heating & Air-Conditioning

Heating & Air-Conditioning is not usually considered to be a safety item, however in winter, these items can add significantly to driver and passenger safety, particularly when used together.

While the heater adds significantly to driver and passenger comfort and improves the driver's ability to concentrate, using the air-conditioner at the same time adds significantly to safety by reducing the tendency for the windows to fog-up internally resulting in poor visibility.

This reduces driver distraction when trying drive with a significantly reduced field of vision or alternatively, attempting to clean the inside of the windscreen.

Driving in snow

If you intend to visit, travel or stay in the snow fields, you will need to comply with the local requirements to carry chains and fit them when required.On front wheel drive cars the chains should be fitted to the front wheels.It is advisable to consult your Mazda Dealer if you intend to purchase or rent chains for your vehicle, as fitting the wrong type can affect the braking performance of your vehicle or alternatively cause damage to the car.

It is also good to be aware, that when attempting to brake in slippery snow or ice conditions, ABS can increase vehicle stopping distances very significantly.

If you intend to travel in the alpine regions; you might consider taking additional precautions in case you become stranded, it is always advisable to carry a blanket/s, small energy snacks, a small shovel for clearing snow from around the vehicle, a torch, window scraper to remove ice from the windscreen, a bag of Kitty Litter can also be useful in getting you out of a tight spot by helping to preventing wheel spin on a slippery icy surfaces.

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