The Winter Car Check Most People Skip (And Pay For Later), by Scotty Kilmer on YouTube. 15 min.
- Video length
- 15 min
- Time to do it
- 90 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
With the engine cold, open the coolant reservoir and check the level against the full mark. Top it up with the correct pre-mixed coolant for your car, not plain water.
Dip an antifreeze test strip in the coolant and compare the colour against the chart. It should protect well below the coldest temperature your area sees in winter.
Watch for head gasket trouble: bubbles in the radiator, sweet-smelling white smoke from the exhaust, or milky oil on the dipstick. Any of these means stop and get it checked.
Bleed trapped air from the cooling system after refilling. Run the engine with the heater on full hot and open the bleed screw or cap until the heater blows hot and no more bubbles rise.
If the engine never warms up properly or the heater stays cold, the thermostat is likely stuck open. Have it replaced before the cold weather sets in.
Check tire pressures when the tires are cold, using the figures on the driver door sticker. Cold weather drops pressure, so recheck every couple of weeks through winter.
Test the battery at rest with a multimeter. Around 12.6 volts is a full charge, and anything under 12.4 volts needs charging or a replacement before the frost arrives.
Drain the summer washer fluid and refill with a winter mix rated below freezing. Frozen washer fluid can crack the reservoir and leaves you blind in road spray.
Run the air conditioning for a few minutes each week, even in the cold. It keeps the seals and compressor lubricated and clears the windscreen faster.
Fit winter wiper blades and check the rubber for cracks or hard spots. New blades clear snow and ice far better than worn summer ones.
Tips and common mistakes
Never open a radiator cap or bleed screw while the engine is hot, because scalding coolant can spray out.
Keep a jump starter pack and a portable air compressor in the boot so a flat battery or soft tire does not strand you.
Wear gloves and eye protection when working near the battery, since it holds acid and can spark.
Do not top up coolant with plain water in winter, because it dilutes the mix and raises the freezing point.
Questions
How do I know if my heater problem is air in the system or a bad thermostat?
Air trapped in the cooling system usually gives you a heater that blows hot then cold, or goes cold at idle. A thermostat stuck open keeps the engine and the heater cold all the time.
Should I lower my tire pressure for winter driving?
No. Use the pressure on the door sticker and check it when the tires are cold. Cold air shrinks the air inside, so you may need to add a few psi to get back to the spec.
Can I just use water in the cooling system in an emergency?
Only to get home. Plain water freezes, boils sooner and causes rust, so drain and refill with the correct coolant mix as soon as you can.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
