5 tips to prevent car breakdowns in winter

It is responsible for many breakdowns in winter because the cold weakens it. We tend to forget that batteries don't last forever! Its lifespan varies depending on how the vehicle is used, but on average it lasts between 4 and 6 years. And with an ageing battery, you can't start!  

Our advice :

• Carry out a battery level test before winter, either with a professional or with a multimeter.

Whether it's in your windscreen washer fluid tank, your coolant tank or even your fuel tank, don't add just anything! As you know, at low temperatures, water freezes. So it has no business being 'pure' in your windscreen washer fluid tank. If you use a coolant concentrate, the proportion of water must also be measured very carefully to avoid freezing.

Our advices :

• Choose a ready-to-use windscreen washer fluid. Avoid at all costs a "homemade" mixture of water and soap which, as well as being corrosive, is likely to freeze.
• Opt for a ready-to-use Bardahl anti-corrosion coolant recommended by leading manufacturers (check your vehicle's owner's manual beforehand).
• If you run on diesel, choose Bardahl Diesel Antifreeze, a snow-repellent protection for road and non-road diesel that makes cold starts easier and works down to -28°C (depending on the type of fuel used). Bardahl Diesel Antifreeze is fully compatible with additivated diesel fuel at service stations. 

Did you know that you can be fined if your car is not completely cleared of snow when you take to the road? Snow projectiles thrown up when your car is in motion are dangerous for other road users and for your eyesight. Windows must also always be fully defrosted.

Our advices : 

• Choose Bardahl Windscreen & Locks De-icer (Ref.5812 for Belgium). Read the instructions carefully and remember to insist on the windscreen wipers and washer nozzles. 
• Protect your door seals from the cold with Bardahl Silicone Lubricant. It will also prevent the glass from sticking to the seals.

More and more recent vehicles are fitted with an electric handbrake. Admittedly, a small button takes up less space in the passenger compartment, but the handbrake risks locking your rear wheels when it freezes. If you have a car with a manual gearbox, put it in gear. If you have an automatic gearbox, leave it in "P", without engaging the electric handbrake.

Tyres are the only points of contact between the road and your car. You should never forget this. As soon as the temperature drops below 7°C, winter tyres are much more effective than summer tyres. If you don't drive many kilometres (less than 15,000 km/year), you could also consider 4-season tyres. In all cases, tyre pressure should be checked at least once a month.