At lower temperatures, the chemical reaction within a battery that produces electrical power slows down, reducing the battery's ability to hold and deliver the necessary charge to start an engine. The viscosity of engine oil also increases in cold weather, making the engine harder to turn over and thus requiring the battery to work harder.

Do you know how old your battery is? If it is over 3 years old, then regular checks are important. If you are not going to use your car for an extended period of time, then disconnect the battery. Batteries still discharge even when they are not in use and the usual way to recharge them is when we are driving.

You can also purchase a battery charger for home use if you like to do this yourself. To charge it enough to get you back on the road it could take around 2 hours but to fully recharge, it can take up to 24hrs. Otherwise, have your battery tested regularly. When you have your car serviced with us we always professionally test it and if it fails the test, we can replace at the same time, which is much more convenient then on the roadside in winter.

At Blackwood Dyno Tune & Service we can book you in for an overnight recharge of your battery. Either bring in your battery on its own or drop off your car to our workshop in Blackwood, South Australia.

There are anti-fog and rain repellent treatments and windscreen washer additives on the market which may help improve visibility in wet conditions. Don’t forget to top up your windscreen washer fluid regularly.

Wiper blades can often require replacing twice a year depending on your circumstances. An obvious time to replace them is if they become chipped or streak when wiping your windscreen clear of rain, but then that’s a bit late as your visibility is compromised. Replace ASAP. You can extend their life a little by wiping the blades regularly with glass cleaner (and cleaning your windscreen regularly) but winter conditions can easily damage the wiper blades. Never use them to remove frost or ice from your windscreen, simply pour some room temperature water over your windscreen to melt the frost so that you don’t damage the wipers when you switch them on.

Cracked windscreens can also be a hazard as extreme cold can worsen the damage. Or if flying debris from a storm or passing vehicle hits the cracks this could shatter your windscreen. No need to explain how bad that could be, especially during a winter storm.

As mentioned, if your demister or heater isn’t working or working poorly and you are wet when you get into the car the resulting condensation will badly affect your visibility.

Don’t increase your risk on the road when there are obvious issues that can be easily resolved by you or our workshop. At Blackwood Dyno Tune & Service your safety is our priority.

Did you know the legal minimum amount of tyre tread in Australia is 1.5mm? In Winter conditions this is just not be enough. If you live rurally or are traveling long distance on varying road surfaces having tyres with good grip is vital.

Tyres need to channel rainwater as well. In wet conditions the last thing you want is to slide out and end up in a ditch. Mud reduces tyre traction as well. If you live in areas with snow fall you may need different tyres altogether for a few months of the year.

Tyre pressure is also very important. Check your vehicle handbook for the recommended psi (you may also find it on a placard inside the drivers door or fuel flap). Hot and cold temperatures can change the pressure without you realising it. Having the wrong pressure can affect the traction, handling, and overall tyre life. Plus, increase fuel consumption. You can purchase your own tyre pressure gauge or after you have filled up your tank at the servo, check your tyre pressure there and inflate if necessary.

Have your tyres inspected and tested regularly to identify other issues as well, like wheel alignment and balancing. Hitting gutters and holes in the road along with other rough conditions can affect your wheel alignment. If your tyres wear unevenly, they won’t handle winter road conditions well and you will need to replace your tyres sooner.  Ideally, it is best to replace all tyres at the same time but 2 at a time is also possible. Put the new tyres on the front and the other 2 on the rear for most cars. And check that spare tyre.

Your toolbox should also have a jack and wheel brace. Take note whether your wheel lock nuts require a special key (which is different to the standard 6-sided shape) to loosen them. Chat with the friendly team at Blackwood Dyno Tune & Service to check, repair or replace your tyres.

For your safety, please remember you should always check your coolant quality and level when the engine is cold and before you start the motor.
If your coolant looks discoloured it is imperative that you have your radiator inspected and possibly flushed out as any blockages in the system will reduce the radiators performance and damage your engine or cause a breakdown, usually at an inconvenient time.

Never mix your coolants! Just because it’s the same colour, doesn’t mean it’s compatible. Different coolants have different additives. When mixed these can cause a chemical reaction that could cause damage to your engine, cooling system or ancillary parts. When in doubt flush it out, but if you do have to top it up, always use demineralised water and then give us a call to book in a cooling system service.

Just like engine oils, every vehicle manufacturer specifies different types of engine coolants and inhibitors for their vehicles. It’s very important that the correct engine cooling product is used for your vehicle to help maintain its performance and longevity. It’s also critical to preserving your vehicles manufacturer warranty.

We check your radiator and engine cooling system with every service and provide you with a detailed vehicle report which includes pictures* of what we find (*in the digital version). Always feel free to ask our friendly technicians at Blackwood Dyno Tune & Service about your car concerns.

If you need to check this on your own, then ideally this is done in the evening with your car parked facing a wall or garage door. Make sure your handbrake is engaged, then turn your car on but don’t start the engine, this allows all electrical elements of your car to function.

You should be able to check most of the lights without leaving the car as they will be reflected on the wall in front of you, but it never hurts to walk around your vehicle to be sure. When you need to check the rear of your vehicle simply reverse up to the wall/garage door and test the rear lights and indicators.

If the globes seem dim or yellow have them replaced and clean the lights. If your headlights look discoloured and opaque, then consider having a headlight restoration done with a professional chemical solution which is a fraction of the cost to replace them.

It is a legal requirement that all your lights and indicator’s function. If you are unsure about doing this yourself, don’t hesitate to contact us at Blackwood Dyno Tune & Service and we can check them for you with our Driveway Service.

Unlike conventional oils, Full Synthetic oil doesn’t need time to warm up which provides a greater protection and less wear to your engine each time your turn it on, especially on those very frosty mornings.

P.S. Whenever you have the oil changed you should also have the oil filter replaced to maximise the flow and efficiency of your oil. You may also consider checking hoses as well, as the rubber becomes brittle over time and cold weather can easily cause cracking.

You’re welcome to ask us at Blackwood Dyno Tune & Service if you’re confused about which oil is best for your vehicle when you book in your next service with us. We will always use an oil that matches the specifications recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.

Whether you are driving locally or interstate when your car stops, you often you can’t, because of work commitments or important appointments. Roadside assistance cover can offer services like roadside battery and tyre replacement, car hire while your car is at the mechanics, towing, accommodation if you are a certain distance away from home, windscreen replacement cover and much more.

Always have your insurance details with you, especially their contact number. This is super easy to add to your smart phone with notes, documents or adding the insurance company’s app to your home screen, otherwise a paper copy or business card in your wallet/handbag is very handy.

Sometimes you may receive member discounts too, so it is worthwhile familiarising yourself with your cover.

We hope these automotive winter maintenance tips have been helpful. If we can assist you further in anyway, don't hesitate to reach out with your questions or concerns. The professional and friendly team at Blackwood Dyno Tune & Service are here to help. Open Monday to Friday 8am - 5pm.