Marsh - Vehicle Checklist

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General Advice

Carry out daily vehicle safety checks, including tyre condition, tread depth, and pressure of all the tyres including the spare, battery and wiper blade condition, and windscreen wash level.
Make sure the lights are fully functioning, and double check oil and fuel levels before setting off.
Check anti-freeze levels, and carry a de-icer in case the locks freeze.
If warming a car or school mini-bus up, don’t leave it unattended with the keys in the ignition. Many vehicles are stolen this way by opportunist thieves each year.
In winter the angle of the sun may frequently be very low and may cause glare, so reduce your speed, keep both the inside and outside of your windscreen clean and if you wear sunglasses take them off whenever the sun goes in.
Be smooth and gentle with steering and brakes, and allow much longer braking distances than you would normally, at least twice as much in wet weather and up to 10 times as much in ice/snow.
If you do have an accident and the vehicle is immobilised, use hazard warning lights to alert other motorists.
For vehicles that are not being used that often, ensure you regularly turn the engine over, and keep the engine running to keep the battery energised.
Have your breakdown service telephone helpline number and mobile phone with you.
Ensure your car service appointments are up to date with no underlying issues
Ensure your tyres have the correct tread and the right pressure – under-inflated or overinflated can affect your braking distance, grip and steering (check your manufacturer handbook for correct inflation levels)
Don’t leave it until the last minute to Fuel up – ensure you always have a quarter of a tank to be on the safe side
Check all your fluids including oil, water, coolant, anti-freeze and screen wash levels
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When were your bulbs last changed? Check your indicator and break lights
Through rain, snow, mud you’ll need to make sure your wiper blades are working

Winter Tips

When making winter journeys, here are the all-important items you should pack into your boot

Spare warm clothes + Sensible footwear
Hi-vis jacket
Tyre chains
Warning triangles
Bottled Water + snacks
Charged, power bank
Ice scraper + de-icer
First Aid kit
Empty fuel can
Jump leads
Torch + spare batteries
Snow shovel
Cardboard – to help you get out of any sticky, mud-type situations

Preparing your car for Ice and Snow

Always check the weather forecast before you leave for a big journey and have a backup route in-case you come across any disruptions. If it’s really bad weather – do you really need to travel?
It’s advisable to have a 3mm tyre tread to help with traction and grip
For frost or snow covered windscreens and roofs – please clear and use de-icer or warm water (not hot water…)
Drive slower and increase following distance
Avoid sudden braking, you may lose traction and skid
For heavy snow. If you can’t stop in a safe place, use your fog lights.

Heavy rain driving advice

Turn your head or fog lights on
Slow down and increase your following distance

Floods

Only drive through low level water if essential and never through deep, moving water
If you experience unresponsive steering, try gradually slowing down
It only takes a few tablespoons of water to cause serious damage to your engine. So, stay in a low gear to keep the revs high, which helps prevent water from getting in via your exhaust.
Always test your brakes safely after driving through any type of water

Winter storage tips.

If you’re not planning on driving for a while, best to keep your pride and joy in a warm and sheltered place, and best to keep it covered.
Fill the tank. This helps to reduce the airspace in the tank and because there is fuel vapour inside, there is less chance for water to form
Fluid check. If the vehicle is being stored for a considerable period, it’s probably best to drain engine oil, primary and transmission fluids so that they don’t become clogged up with grime and dirt.
Wash and wax. It’s not only aesthetic – by coating the vehicle in a seal of wax you can help protect chrome and paintwork from grime and dirt

Tips on driving through mud

If your tyres are underinflated, you’ll have a greater risk of getting stuck, so always remember your basic checks
Avoid sudden braking, you may lose traction and skid
Add mud guards if there’s a chance you’ll encounter mud on your journey
If you have a lot of mud on your tyres, drive slowly to shed any excess