Give your car a good clean and work off the Christmas excess while you’re at it. (Picture © Autoglym)
Many drivers rarely give their car a second glance, but our motors do need a bit of TLC. So here are half a dozen ways you can clean and care for your car in the harsh winter weather Continue reading
You don’t need four-wheel drive to stay safe in snow – but it helps. And there are other ways to get your car ready for cold weather. (Picture © Ford)
With temperatures set to plunge this week, new research reveals how unprepared many drivers are for the onset of freezing weather. With the Met Office predicting snow in some parts of the country, along with the thermometer dropping to -5 degrees Celsius in rural areas, Green Flag shows how to get your car ready for cold weather. Continue reading
Topping up your screen wash helps ensure you can see in low winter sun. (Picture © Prestone)
Car maintenance such as topping up screen wash isn’t everybody’s cup of tea. But there are some things drivers really should be able to do to ensure their cars are as roadworthy as possible. It’s quite a worry that a new survey shows that two thirds of drivers can’t check the oil level in their cars; 31 per cent don’t know how to check tyre pressures; and nearly a third don’t know how to fill their screen wash bottle. Continue reading
Driving in the winter can be fun, if you’re ready for it. (Picture © Skoda)
With winter approaching, now’s the time to give your car the once over and make sure it – and you – are prepared for the onset of the cold weather. Winter takes its toll on cars and their owners. Here are some simple steps to ensure you’re ready. Continue reading
Top up your fluids before hitting the road (Picture © Prestone)
The weather drives the breakdown business and the heat of summer provides its own very special challenges for cars and technicians alike. Continue reading
Low oil pressure is a common cause of breakdowns (Picture © Mobil 1)
The nature of breakdowns changes between winter and summer. In the winter we’re called out to faults that tend to be relatively easy to find and fix. In the summer, faults are more serious because the heat tends to place more stress on critical components.
Here are five of the typical faults we see in hot weather. Continue reading
Driving slowly and steadily is the key to not getting stuck in mud (© Volvo)
Rain and festivals go together like Dolly Parton and a guitar. Whatever the weather this year, rain means festival sites become mud baths with quagmires for car parks. Follow the Green Flag guide on how not to get stuck in a rut.
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With January 2014 the wettest month since records began, driving through flood water or heavy rain is becoming a daily reality for millions of UK drivers. But there are very real dangers to entering deep water ‑ for drivers and their vehicles. Howard Crook of Re-think specialises in teaching drivers to cope with floods. This is his advice on how to avoid damaging your car and potentially endangering your life.
Headlights in heavy rain
The Highway Code states that drivers must switch on their vehicle’s headlights when visibility is reduced, including when driving in heavy rain. This is as much to ensure you can be seen by other road users as seeing clearly yourself.
Adjust your speed to road and weather conditions
The speed limit may be 70mph, for example, but in very heavy rain you should slow down and leave a larger gap between you and the vehicle in front so you can see clearly and stop in good time. It will help avoid the risk of aquaplaning on standing water, too.
Avoid if possible
Green Flag advises against driving in flooded areas unless your journey is essential. Research your route and plan an alternative if you can. And make sure you have spare dry clothing, a flask of hot drink and a mobile phone with important numbers stored, just in case.
Depth gauge
Never enter water without knowing how deep it is. “This can be very difficult,” Howard Crook says. “Flood water is frequently full of silt and very dark, making it difficult to see the road markings. What are the features around telling you? Look at the kerb stones. Can you see them, or are they submerged?”
Rubble trouble
It’s impossible to know what’s happened to a flooded road’s surface. “It’s not unheard of for running water to wash asphalt away or rip up kerb stones and deposit other bits of debris that could damage the car,” Howard explains.
Flow decider
If you’re driving through flowing water, see which direction it’s running. Howard says: “Most people think water flowing across the road is the most dangerous. But water flowing parallel to a road can be just as hazardous. I’ve been in water over a road that is ankle deep but I could barely stand up because the current was so strong. This is because the road’s surface is very smooth so there’s no friction and it means the current could sweep a car into a watercourse.”
Look out
If you decide to try passing through flood water, head for the crown of the road which is typically higher than the edges. Drive in and look out of the window, or if you’re feeling brave, open the door. “If the water is up to you car’s sill, it could be deep enough to float your car. Stop and reverse out,” says Howard. If the water is deeper than 10cm – about a third of the way up your wheel – you should avoid driving through it.
Slow and steady
Your head and heart might be telling you to drive through the flood as quickly as possibly but actually you want to do the exact opposite. Land Rover experts advise entering flood water at about 1-2mph. If tick-over in first gear is faster than this, you need to slip the clutch and keep the revs up. Revving the engine can help prevent water entering the engine through the exhaust pipe.
Make waves
The idea is to push the water aside slowly. This will give you a small depression in front of your car allowing your engine to breathe. You want to avoid your engine sucking water in through its air intake which can result in astronomical bills. Watch out for over-enthusiastic drivers coming the other way too fast: their wave could flood your car. Once you leave the water, push your brake pedal gently to clear excess water from pads.
And if you do conk out…
Get out of the car. Letting water into it may feel wrong but it will reduce the chances of the car floating away. Switch on the hazard-warning lights, don’t leave the bonnet open (in heavy rain, this may only add to the engine damage) then lock the car and call for breakdown assistance.