Whether we like it or not, the long hot summer is behind us and we need to prepare for winter. We’ve already had some serious storms this year and the Beast from the East was a chilling reminder of how bleak winter can be. It’s time to get your vehicle ready for any upcoming icy blasts. Always stay on top of your vehicle’s maintenance and servicing, including your Gloucester MOT.

Here are some important tips to follow to prevent your car being one of the statistics from car breakdown services:

A really helpful acronym to use to help you remember the crucial things to check on your car is FORCES:

It stands for fuel, oil, rubber, coolant, electrics and screen wash.

1. Fuel

Always check you have enough fuel before you head out. This might sound so obvious as to be ridiculous, but a surprising number of people run out of fuel in very low temperatures and become stranded.

2. Oil

When cars are checked by breakdown services, they often find around a third are dangerously low on oil. Not topping up your oil can lead to breakdown or even serious engine damage. Always make sure your oil level is between the minimum and maximum markers with your dipstick.

3. Rubber

This refers to the condition of your tyres and windscreen wipers. Check them for damage, wear and tear, splits and tread depth. A minimum depth of 1.6mm is normally required but for winter, 3mm is recommended for additional grip. Check the tyre pressure too.

Your wiper blades must be effective at clearing your screen, especially during inclement weather. If your windscreen is frozen, use some de-icer or warm water to free them before turning them on or you could blow a fuse or break the mechanics.

4. Coolant

Coolant levels are important to avoid an engine freezing over or overheating. It’s a good idea to check levels before setting off on a long journey.

5. Electrics

Lights are crucial in poor weather to make sure you can see where you’re going but also to make you visible to other drivers. Examine your lights, making sure they are clean and battery terminals are tight and clear of grime.

If you notice your car struggling to turn over or your battery is over 4 years old, you should have it checked by a garage. Hundreds of thousands of breakdown call-outs each year are battery related and icy conditions can play havoc with older batteries.

6. Screen wash

Always use a good quality screen wash and check regularly throughout the winter to keep it topped up. It needs to be effective to at least -15 degrees. During winter, the roads are dirtier, grittier and muckier, all of which will be landing on your windscreen. Many breakdown services report drivers whose screen wash has completely frozen so it’s important to use a top-quality additive.

Autumn checks that set you up

Winter preparation is easier if you start in autumn, when darker evenings and damper air are the first signs that the weather is changing.

Check the wiper blades and replace them in good time, because heavier autumn rain means they work harder. Check the car’s lights too, as the sun sets earlier and you will be driving in the dark more often. Keep an eye on the antifreeze level in the coolant reservoir and make sure the concentration is right before the cold arrives, because it protects the engine.

Many experts recommend changing the air filter twice a year. Dust from the dry summer can clog it, blocking airflow and hurting fuel economy and performance. It is also worth gathering your emergency gear early, such as a shovel, gloves, de-icer and boots, so it is ready when needed. Finally, darker nights can attract thieves, so park in a secure garage if you have one.

Winter checks on battery, tyres and fluids

A breakdown in winter is more serious than in summer, with the risk of being stranded in the cold and fewer daylight hours to get things fixed. The best approach is to avoid one by getting the basics in order early. Flat batteries and jump starts can upset onboard computers and other electrics, so take advantage of the free battery checks many garages offer, which should include the terminals and cables. Have old oil and clogged filters changed too, as cars are hard enough to start in the cold.

Many drivers use summer tyres all year, so check tyres for wear and damage every couple of weeks. Look at the wheels as well, since kerb damage or poor alignment matters much more on ice, and minor dents and scratches corrode faster in winter.

Check the antifreeze, usually mixed 50:50 with distilled water, and use a winter formula in the washer bottle. Test the heater and windscreen blowers, and replace wiper blades, which degrade after about six months.

Coping with low sun and wet leaves

Autumn brings its own driving hazards before winter arrives. Low sun can dazzle drivers, so keep the windscreen clean inside and out, replace wiper blades that smear and use a good quality screenwash. Keep sunglasses in the car, and slow down if you are dazzled.

Darker afternoons mean lights matter more. Check headlights, brake lights, indicators and number plate lights regularly, following the handbook or asking a garage. Fallen leaves make roads slippery and can hide potholes and road markings, so take extra care, especially on rural roads.

Tyres need attention too. The legal minimum tread depth for cars is 1.6mm, but many experts recommend at least 3mm going into winter for better grip on wet roads. If your battery seems to be struggling, replace it before the cold weather arrives, and keep an eye on coolant all year, as it prevents corrosion and stops the engine freezing or overheating.