Advisor: What to do against ice and cold?
BETTER DRIVING IN WINTER If you pay attention to a few things before your first drive in the morning, you'll get a good start to the day even in the cold season. The experts from the Auto Gewerbe Verband Schweiz explain what you should bear in mind. The cold autumn and winter days are no fun for motorists in the morning: they leave the cozy warmth of their [...]
The cold days of fall and winter are no fun for motorists in the morning: They leave the cozy warmth of their homes and get into a cold car. Add to that fogged-up windshields or windshields covered with a layer of ice.
Markus Peter, Head of Technology & Environment at the AGVS: "As a preventive measure, it helps to keep the windows clean from the inside. This is because dirty windows fog up more quickly." In addition to household paper, the expert advises using newspaper, which is particularly good for cleaning windows. For the exterior surface, Markus Peter recommends a window sealant.
Never douse the disc with hot water
If the windshield is fogged up, the quickest and easiest way to deal with the problem is to use the air conditioner - it removes moisture from the air. If, on the other hand, the windshield is covered with a layer of ice, the only thing that helps is scratching. Under no circumstances should you pour a bucket of hot water over the window. The temperature difference can cause stress cracks.
Covering foils and cardboard protect from ice
According to Markus Peter, there are big differences in quality when it comes to ice scrapers. He recommends those with a brass blade and a rubber lip against moisture. It is also important that the ice scraper fits well in the hand and does not break immediately. Especially when it is very cold, cheap plastic becomes hard and brittle.
Covering foils and cardboard can help prevent ice - or the car can be retrofitted with a parking heater by the garage owner. This can be programmed, for example, to start preheating the engine and interior half an hour before the start of the journey. This means that the engine is already at operating temperature when the car is driven off, and there is no more scratching.
Instead of daytime running lights, it is better to switch on dipped headlights
Many motorists are often on the road at dusk. Then not only is a clean field of vision particularly important. Visibility is impaired by the low sun and the glare effect is much stronger. At dawn and in the early evening, it is therefore particularly important to attract the attention of other road users. This means not only driving with the daytime running lights, which are limited to the front on many vehicles, but also switching on the dipped headlights. This also illuminates the rear lights.
Heat is good for motorist and vehicle
For a pleasant temperature in the car, Markus Peter advises using the heating consciously and selectively: "Thanks to a heated seat, a warm feeling arises in the car driver and he can reduce the power of the other heaters accordingly."
And: so-called cold starts are taboo, because high engine speeds and cold engines do not get along. The low temperatures mean that the engine oil takes longer to reach operating temperature and can develop its optimum lubricating effect everywhere. If you accelerate too much too soon, the higher load will increase wear.
