Mike Brewer reveals 4 crucial checks to protect your car this winter – and why you should NEVER leave it in a garage
AN EXPERT has revealed the four crucial checks to make to protect your car this winter.
Wheeler Dealers star Mike Brewer has revealed the four most important things to keep in mind this winter.
Mike, 59, who co-presents the Discovery Channel's show with Marc 'Elvis' Priestly, said classic car owners in particular need to be careful.
The petrolhead said drivers should regularly check up on their cars and make sure to run the engine to avoid issues.
He also suggested doing a quick check on the headlights when the car is parked to make sure the bulbs are in good working order.
According to Mike, this is particularly important for vintage car owners.
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He advised never leaving cars in the garage unattended throughout the autumn and winter in order to avoid having to fork out for potentially pricey repairs.
Brewer told the Express: “If I don't drive them frequently and regularly they don’t like it, they start to leak, they start to decay, the rubbers don’t like it. It’s simple things.
“If you’ve got a classic car, now's the time to talk about this coming into winter.
"Lots of people will take their classic cars, tuck them away in the garage, and forget about them until Spring.
"You should regularly go down to your car once a month, sit in it, start it up and just let the engine get up to temperature before letting it cool down again."
“Lots of people will take their classic cars and tuck them away in the garage and forget about them until the spring.”
He advised owners should sit in their beloved car once a month and start it up, letting the engine warm up to normal running temperature and then let it cool down.
The second tip is regularly opening and shutting doors, because the rubber seals need to compress in order to remain supple.
If they aren’t opened and shut regularly, they can dry out and decay.
His third piece of advice was to roll the car forward five inches before rolling it back 10 inches – this rolls the tyres around so you don’t “square” the tyres.
He also advised putting your foot on the brake and clutch and switching the lights on and off.
Classic cars can “suffer” from the cold winter months without getting regular attention, according to the experts at insurance company Carole Nash.
The fourth piece of advice to remember are the fluids in the car, like oil and antifreeze.
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These can thicken in the cold temperatures which then could cause “multiple internal issues”.
Batteries can also seize up due to the freezing temperatures and tyre pressures can also fluctuate when they’re not being used.
