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[feeutfo]

.... and feel fairly prepared, all serviced up new tyres all jobs done.

Would like to thank "Big Bob Dent Fixed", or what ever his name is now, for recommending Bosch Aero Twin wiper blades. Lovely and smooth, previous Valio blade style items had annoying and totally random squeak. Well happy with the bosch, seem slightly softer rubber and the blade tip itself has and extra little fin behind it to help press the tip onto the screen, i guess that damps out the squeaks?

Anyway, any other tips anyone can add to help get the car through the winter?

Anti freeze an obvious one i guess, i have halfords ready mixed pink stuff in at the moment. Hope that will do.

Rear wheel arches bother me, bit too far gone for just wax oil, need redoing really....?

[Ziad]

I reckon you might need to install a chimney Chris 

[feeutfo]

I reckon you might need to install a chimney Chris 

Go on.....
Winters aint that bad.

[Ziad]

I reckon you might need to install a chimney Chris 

Go on.....
Winters aint that bad.

Alright ... a couple of stellas might help then 

[SP_3.2]

Have tried the same Chris think all  the main things are done. Need to get the the oil and fillter changed in the next 1k to keep up the 3k intervals . MoT due next month and the tax , more money.

[Ghost]

I also had the double wiper blades on my car in germany, if it doesnt snow they are great, cant complain.
But when it snowed they would get a load of ice between the blades lifting them from the screan and only smearing it so I got rid of them and got the singles back on.
So if you get a lot of snow then be prepared to get out and clean them every 10 - 15 mins.

[tunnie]

personally i would drop the coolant and put in Vx Red thats been mixed with water. For me being a 4 pot owner the biggest killer of HG's is coolant, so for the minimal cost mine gets changed every year, i am pritty sure i changed it at the start of this year, but i might change it again anyway before the winter sets in due to the number of miles its going to be doing.

[Kevin Wood]

I would say mileage is irrelevant to coolant. If anything, more regular use stops it degrading as some modern coolants can accumulate algae growth if they don't regularly see high temperatures.

.. and the 3.2 has metal head gaskets.

I would say the Halfrauds ready mixed stuff would be fine if it's not due a change. It's an OAT coolant similar to VX red and has the advantage that it's not mixed with hard tap water.

Kevin

[tunnie]

I would say mileage is irrelevant to coolant. If anything, more regular use stops it degrading as some modern coolants can accumulate algae growth if they don't regularly see high temperatures.

.. and the 3.2 has metal head gaskets.

I would say the Halfrauds ready mixed stuff would be fine if it's not due a change. It's an OAT coolant similar to VX red and has the advantage that it's not mixed with hard tap water.

Kevin

Its used practically every day, every 3 days, it has 3 days of long runs. 99% sure i changed it last winter so i guess it will be until next year 

[Varche]

Hard tap water and antifreeze? Is the hard water a problem then?

Ours is very hard and with a high PH content!

v

[cem_devecioglu]

I generally use soft polishing stuff on windscreen and headlights before rainy days start.. so the rain drops mixed with mud cant stay on it .. and wipers skate silently.. but must be renewed frequently if it rains everyday..

[Kevin Wood]

Hard tap water and antifreeze? Is the hard water a problem then?

Ours is very hard and with a high PH content!

v

If the coolant is changed regularly so the antifreeze stays active, and the car doesn't lose water and need regular topping up, probably not, but soft water is better. I used to have a damp garage which I dehumidified, so I had a nice supply of distilled water for such things. Not any more.

I wouldn't have thought a high PH would be too much of an issue.

Kevin

[feeutfo]

Hard tap water and antifreeze? Is the hard water a problem then?

Ours is very hard and with a high PH content!

v

Took one look at our kettle, and thought, i aint putting our water in my car. Its so hard you get a kicking just washing your face.

Having said that i'm not sure what halfords use to mix it with. Hard water knowing my luck. But would like to think the right sort of water would be used.
 
Fairly sure though, anti freeze is formulated to work with tap water.

[Selseybill]

winter hum bug were still in shorts down here

[bob.dent]

.... and feel fairly prepared, all serviced up new tyres all jobs done.

Would like to thank "Big Bob Dent Fixed", or what ever his name is now, for recommending Bosch Aero Twin wiper blades. Lovely and smooth, previous Valio blade style items had annoying and totally random squeak. Well happy with the bosch, seem slightly softer rubber and the blade tip itself has and extra little fin behind it to help press the tip onto the screen, i guess that damps out the squeaks?

Anyway, any other tips anyone can add to help get the car through the winter?

Anti freeze an obvious one i guess, i have halfords ready mixed pink stuff in at the moment. Hope that will do.

Rear wheel arches bother me, bit too far gone for just wax oil, need redoing really....?

 

I know wiper blade recommendations are quite mixed on the forum but I wouldn't use any other type now. Mine have been on for nearly 2 years now and still operate faultlessly.