Winter is a tough time for cars and as temperatures drop, it can be hard to maintain the level of efficiency that you’d usually get through the warmer months. You’ll find many of the most fuel-efficient cars available here, at David Hayton, but even these can be affected by chilly conditions when you’re out and about this winter.
But there are some steps that you can take to help boost your car’s efficiency through winter driving and in this article, we’re going to take a look at some of the key tweaks to implement as a way of making your car go further for less.
Smoother Driving
Making your driving smoother is one of the easiest ways of boosting your car’s efficiency. Changing gear a little earlier and being more considerate with your applications of throttle and brake can have a big impact on your car’s efficiency levels and we’d recommend trying it out year-round, as it can help to save on fuel.
Not only that but driving more smoothly reduces the strain on many of your car’s key components, meaning that they won’t wear out as quickly. Your winter driving won’t have as much of an impact on your car’s condition as a result.
Remove Weight
You may find that you’ve accumulated quite a lot of extra equipment in your car over the year. Bags, shoes and coats add extra weight and though this isn’t going to make a night-and-day difference, these small changes can have a big impact when put together.
Though we’d advise keeping a warm coat in the boot of the car just in case you need to stop unexpectedly in cold weather, removing those items which aren’t used that often can help your car to get up to speed more easily which, in turn, will lower fuel usage and boost efficiency.
Ensure Tyres are Inflated Correctly
Tyre pressures are vital during winter. With grimier conditions, under-inflated tyres can struggle to get the car slowed down as effectively, so you do need to make sure that they’re topped up to the right levels. Fortunately, this is easy to do. You’ll find the correct tyre pressures for your car on a panel inside the fuel filler door, or in the vehicle’s handbook. Simply inflate - or deflate - your tyres to the right pressures and not only will your car perform as it should, but you’ll also get the best possible efficiency from it.
At this point, it’s also a good idea to check on the general condition of your tyres, looking out for any cuts or bulges in the sidewalls. These could lead to a blowout later on and, if found, mean that the tyre should be replaced with a new one. It’s a fuel-saving tip which has the added benefit of boosting safety levels, too.
Top Up Fluids
Colder temperatures put more strain on a vehicle’s mechanicals and that’s why having the correct amount of key fluids in the car will make sure that it is working just as it should. We’d check the car’s oil - and top it up if necessary - as well as ensure that there’s enough coolant in the vehicle. You could also take a look at the vehicle’s brake fluid levels and, if you’re not sure about any of these aspects, consult a trained technician.
Remember to sort your windscreen washer fluid levels, too. Winter is a bad time to run out as it means you’re not able to effectively clean your car’s windscreen, so make sure that the levels are properly topped up. Don’t be tempted to use just water, either, as this can freeze during sub-zero temperatures and cause lasting damage to the system.
Pre-heat EVs
Electric vehicles do struggle during the winter months as their batteries have to work harder to transfer their energy to the motors when the temperatures fall. However, one of the best ways to make your EV as efficient as can be during the winter months is by pre-heating the car while it is on charge.
By doing this, you pre-warm the interior of the car while it is still connected to the charger rather than relying on the vehicle’s own battery reserves. In doing so, you’re using the electricity that you’re plugged into, lengthening the car’s range in the process.
Take Away Accessories
During the summer and autumn, it’s quite common to kit out a car with a range of accessories such as bike racks and roof boxes. However, these fitments cause extra drag and will play havoc with your car’s overall efficiency.
So if you’re not planning on using them any time soon, we’d recommend removing these accessories.
You’ll find many winter-ready cars here at David Hayton with comfort-focused features such as heated seats and multi-zone climate control. Check out the website today to see our latest range and get in touch to speak with one of the team if you have any questions.
