Nine Things Every New Vehicle Owner Should Know During Winter Driving

Many new vehicle owners get flustered as soon as winter arrives: the vehicle won’t start in the morning, the windows fog up or frost over, the wipers get stuck… These scenarios have almost become a ‘winter driving failure guide.’ In fact, most of these problems are not caused by the vehicle itself, but by mistakes due to lack of experience. Let’s take a look at nine aspects that new vehicle owners need to pay attention to during winter driving.

3、Check the Antifreeze

Antifreeze not only prevents freezing but also serves as a coolant and corrosion inhibitor. If it’s used for too long, its performance will gradually degrade. Some vehicle owners even add water into the antifreeze or directly use water instead of antifreeze, which can pose significant risks.

Once winter arrives, poor-quality or expired antifreeze can cause the engine to freeze internally. In the best case, it can crack the hoses and radiator, but in the worst case, it can damage the engine block, leading to irreversible failure. By then, not only will it affect your driving experience, but the repair costs will be painful as well.

Therefore, before entering winter, it’s essential to check the condition of the antifreeze. If you notice the color has become cloudy, there’s a lot of sediment, or it has exceeded its service life, make sure to replace it promptly to avoid turning a “small problem” into a “big headache.”

4、Check the Battery

After entering winter, the combination of cold temperatures and frequent use of devices like the heater, air conditioning, and seat warmers significantly increases the load on the vehicle battery. The battery’s performance naturally declines in low temperatures, and if it wasn’t in good condition beforehand, the problems become more evident in winter.

Many car owners have experienced this: the vehicle is parked fine at night, but the next morning, it just won’t start. This is often because the battery has drained in the cold. To avoid this embarrassing situation, the key is to check the battery’s health with a vehicle battery tester in advance. If you find the battery is weak, don’t wait until it fails—replace it promptly with a new one to ensure a worry-free winter.

6、Forcibly Pulling on Frozen Wiper Blades

In cold weather, the wiper blades can easily freeze to the windshield. Forcing the wipers to move, pouring boiling water on them, or even turning on the wipers forcefully can damage the wiper blades, windshield, or even burn out the wiper motor.

The correct method is to start the engine, allowing the water temperature to gradually rise. Then, turn on the heater and the front windshield defogging function, and let the wiper blades thaw naturally. Some vehicles are also equipped with a heated front windshield feature, which can be activated for convenience. This method is safe, protects the vehicle components, and ensures clear visibility while driving in winter.

7、Defogging the Glass by Opening the Window and Blowing Cold Air

When driving in winter, fogging on the windshield is mainly caused by the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the vehicle. When warm air meets cold glass, it condenses into fog, obstructing your view.

The correct procedure is as follows:

1. Turn on the air conditioning (AC), select external circulation, and activate the front windshield defogging function to quickly reduce the temperature difference between inside and outside, rapidly clearing the fog.
2. After the fog is cleared, turn off the air conditioning and turn on the heater to maintain a comfortable temperature inside the vehicle.

8、Check the Brake Fluid

Brakes are crucial for driving safety, especially on snowy and icy roads. If you hear loud brake noises or notice that it takes longer than usual for the vehicle to stop, it’s time to consider replacing the brake fluid. The recommended replacement cycle is usually every 2 years or around 40,000 kilometers, but it should be based on the actual usage conditions of the vehicle.

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