Necessary inspection
In the cold winter, the engine needs more protection. Check not only the label of engine lubricating oil for it, but also the antifreeze in the water tank. If four seasons antifreeze is used, it can be replaced once every two years or so, but the freezing point should be checked. There are even fewer people who pay attention to oil. Generally speaking, the internationally recognized classification standard is SAE (American Society of Automotive Engineers), which clearly indicates the use environment of engine oil.
W on the oil drum package stands for winter, and the smaller the numbers such as 0W, 5W, 10W, the better the low-temperature startability. For example, 0WW stands for maintaining good lubricity and fluidity at MINUS 30 degrees Celsius. In addition to low-temperature viscosity grades, there are also high-temperature viscosity grades SAE20, 30, 40, 50 and so on. The larger the number, the better the high-temperature lubrication effect of oil and the more stable the viscosity.
Necessary items
Although many people don't need to wear too thick cold-proof equipment when driving out, it is also necessary to have a set of cold-proof clothes and a pair of gloves in the car. In case the tire needs to be changed in the snow and ice, these preparations are like straws. Dusting the dust and snow off the car with a duster is what every driver will do, but be careful not to wipe the window with a wet cloth, which will freeze the window and make it more beautiful, so it is best to have a dry cloth on the car in winter.
Sunny days after snow are silvery white, which is easy to make people's optic nerves tired. Wearing sunglasses and taking a break at the right time can alleviate it. It is windy and dry in winter, and some low-quality smokers throw away cigarette butts that have not been extinguished by sparks. In addition, dry branches and dead leaves are easy to enter the engine compartment, so a perfect and effective fire extinguisher is also a necessary item.
Selective parking
Frosting and freezing of glass is very common in winter, which is mainly caused by the large temperature difference between inside and outside the car. Therefore, before going home to park at night, open the window for a few minutes to appropriately reduce the temperature inside the car to avoid frosting on the windshield when driving in the morning.
If conditions permit, of course, it is best to park the vehicle indoors or in the underground parking lot. If you can only park outdoors, you should also choose a sunny, sheltered, flat and dry place to park. It is best to turn your back to the wind when parking, which can reduce the damage of ice and snow to the car water tank and engine. In addition, it is windy in winter, so it is best to park your car in an open place to avoid falling objects and hurting your car. When parking on a slope, it is best to put your head up, so as to avoid the condensed water from the exhaust system being re-injected into the exhaust system, causing unnecessary trouble. When there is ice and snow, it is not advisable to stop on the ramp, so as to avoid difficulties in starting.
Dealing with icing
On snowy and freezing days, before and after turning on and off the wiper, pay attention to wipe off the snow, ice and water left on the wiper blade, and at the same time wipe the windshield to prevent the wiper blade from freezing together. If necessary, stop at night to support the wiper blade to ensure that it will not freeze.
If your car is unfortunately frozen, you can start the engine first, turn on the warm air in the car, and slowly shovel the ice in the gap with a special ice shovel for car glass. If there is no snow shovel, you can pour an appropriate amount of alcohol-based solvent on the wiper blade, and the ice will melt in a few minutes.
Once the sunroof freezes, do not forcibly open the sunroof, which will easily damage the sunroof motor and rubber sealing ring. Don't open it until the temperature inside the car rises to the point where the sunroof glass and sealant frame are thawed.
Some people cover the windshield with newspaper or plastic film to prevent the windshield from freezing. If the temperature is extremely low, this method is likely to freeze newspapers and plastic films on the glass, so it is not advisable.
Low temperature start-up
In the low temperature state, many vehicles will encounter the problem of ignition difficulty when starting, or sometimes suddenly turn off when driving. The correct answer is: it is best to control the starting time of the vehicle within 5 seconds at a time, that is, turning the key or pressing the start switch should not last too long. If the startup is unsuccessful for three times, it should be stopped for a few minutes before starting, so as not to damage the battery. In extremely cold weather, you can remove the battery and keep it warm indoors, and then start it in the morning and install it again. Although this is a bit troublesome, it can ensure the smooth start of the vehicle.
Due to the cold temperature in winter, lubricating oil will not flow easily due to the increase of viscosity. After the engine is started, start the engine slowly to warm up. During this time, don't slam on the accelerator and don't let the engine rotate too fast. In addition, the preheating time does not need to be too long, as long as the thermometer pointer starts to rise.
Window defogging
At present, many cars have installed the front windshield defrosting air outlet at the bottom of the inside of the front windshield. When in use, just turn on the air conditioner, adjust the gear to the defrosting gear and start the external circulation at the same time.
In order to defog the rear window, you can turn on the resistance wire of the rear windshield to defog it. This function is also the standard configuration of most vehicles. The specific use method is very simple. Most vehicles only need to find this button on the central control panel and press it.
In addition, special antifogging agents for automobiles can be bought in the automotive supplies market. Before using this antifogging agent, the inside of the windshield should be cleaned first, and then an appropriate amount of antifogging agent should be sprayed. When the antifogging agent is solidified, it can be wiped clean with a clean towel. The antifogging agent can form a hydrophobic layer between water molecules and the inner surface of glass, so as to keep the surface of glass clean and achieve the antifogging effect.
Drive on the road
When driving a manual transmission vehicle in winter, you must start gently and slowly, so as to "lift the clutch slowly and step on the accelerator lightly". On the one hand, this is to make the load of the engine as small as possible when it does not reach the normal working temperature, and on the other hand, it is also beneficial to the safety of the engine, tires and driving. The starting mode of lightly stepping on the accelerator is equally effective for driving automatic vehicles. If you can't start, you need to improve the adhesion of the car to the road. You can put grass, boards or branches on the road, or install snow chains.
In gear selection, drivers should change gears frequently in winter, just like driving a vehicle during the running-in period. We must pay attention to the selection of suitable gears and do a good job of coordination between oil and gas. Too low and too high gears are easy to make the car out of control, which is especially important when driving on ice and snow roads. When starting on wet roads and driving at medium and low speeds, it is best to choose a higher gear to avoid slipping due to excessive driving force.