Frozen doors, icy windows and other winter troubles. How to cope?

Iced windows

Iced and frosted windows are the first sign that winter is just around the corner. This is also the moment when many drivers realize that for the next few months they will have to leave the house a few minutes earlier to remove ice from the windshield in a cold parking lot. Choosing a scraper should not be difficult. It is important that the edges intended for scraping are perfectly smooth and do not bear any traces of mechanical damage, because any unevenness can cause dirt particles to get in and scratch the glass. especially for car windshield. Currently, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we often have a disinfectant liquid at hand, which will be a good replacement if we do not have a professional preparation. – Just spray the windshield from top to bottom with a spray de-icer, then scrape off the melting ice with a scraper or cloth. This will save us unnecessary scraping of the glass, and will additionally help in the future, because the application of a thin layer of defroster will prevent the formation of another layer of ice - explains Krzysztof Wyszyński, Product Manager Würth Polska.

See also: Is it possible not to pay OC when the car is only in the garage? Another method of dealing with windows is to heat the car from the inside. However, here the road traffic law stands in the way, which in art. 60 sec. 2 point 31 prohibits leaving the engine running when the car is parked in a built-up area. In this case, we must take into account that leaving the car idling in order to heat the windshield faster may result in a fine. After all, probably few people have the time or desire to wait on a cold morning for the ice on the glass to melt.

Frozen doors

Another common problem faced by drivers is freezing doors. We can carefully try to remove the ice by hand from places we have access to. However, when trying to open the door, beware of using excessive force. This may damage the gasket or the handle. In the event that we cannot get inside, we should check the other doors in the vehicle and enter the car from the other side, or even through the trunk, and then turn on the heating. Some, if they have access to electricity or a house nearby, try to use a hair dryer or lukewarm water. The latter method, however, is especially not recommended, because even if you manage to open the door, the liquid will freeze again and create an even bigger problem the next day. A more effective alternative to home methods is the use of the window defroster mentioned above. Just check beforehand whether the preparation will not react with the rubber and paint of the vehicle. However, as in many cases, prevention is the best. Professionals solve this problem by using a suitable rubber maintenance agent. This preparation not only protects the seals against freezing, but above all provides the necessary flexibility and increases their durability. Products from renowned manufacturers extend the life of rubber parts, and at the same time eliminate creaking and grinding sounds. It is important that the agent provides protection against water, including water splashed from the road, which in the winter season may contain salt from the sprinkled surface.

Diesels are harder

Cars equipped with diesel engines are much more sensitive to low temperatures than their petrol counterparts. It is about the behavior of diesel fuel, which becomes cloudy and solidifies at sub-zero temperatures. This is why gas stations for the colder months have diesel fuel prepared for winter conditions. However, it may happen that the temperature will be so low that diesel fuel will change its properties and make it impossible to drive a car. - Problems with a diesel engine are best avoided through systematic prevention. By adding an agent improving the operating properties of diesel fuel to the tank, we will lower the solidification point. Unfortunately, if we have already allowed the paraffin to precipitate, the fuel additive will not restore the original state. The agent itself improves the filtration capacity of diesel fuel and prevents clogging of the filter and fuel line. Before using the product, it is worth reading the information provided by the manufacturer to learn the exact properties of the agent and the proportions in which it should be added to the fuel - explains Krzysztof Wyszyński from Würth Polska.

Don't forget about the car's interior

Upholstery requires maintenance regardless of the season. Especially when it's leather. In winter, this material is negatively affected by dry air and low temperature, so it is worth using a leather care product. Products from renowned manufacturers do not contain solvents, and consist of waxes and silicones. The application of such a specificity allows you to protect leather elements from damage and restore the shine and provide the desired gloss.

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