Wrap up and protect your vehicle for winter

Winter weather can ruin a vehicle within weeks. It’s so easy to end up with frozen locks, corrosion, seized brakes or engine, a burst radiator or damaged paintwork.

A little D.I.Y preparation will ensure your vehicle remains in tip-top condition, whether parking up for a few days or leaving your pride and joy parked up for the whole winter.

Drain the radiator cooling system and refill with rust-inhibiting antifreeze – 50% is a safe mix to protect in a severe winter.
Change the engine oil and filter - old oil can create sludge. Sludge can freeze.
Spray some light oil into locks, the bonnet catch and hinges.
Grease or spray light oil over brakes and steering linkages.
Leave the handbrake off, leave in gear and use wheel blocks for added safety.
Wash, dry and polish your vehicle using a long life Carnauba sealing wax polish.
Use a trickle charger to charge the battery every few weeks.

Finally, covering the vehicle with a plastic cover or any non-breathable material is a definite no-no and should be avoided, this will trap condensation and provide a fertile breeding ground for rust.

Mail order specialist, Car Parts Direct has developed a car storage cover that has been developed to provide maximum protection for vehicles over the winter. The manufacturer claims it is ideal for both inside the garage or outside in severe elements - for both long or short term protection.

It’s manufactured using a special Tybond material and provides 100% protection against the elements. It's waterproof and importantly, it’s breathable to help prevent that build up of moss. Tybond is extremely soft and non-abrasive, lightweight and durable.

The Car Parts Direct car storage kit uses ultrasonic welded seams to provide maximum strength for years of use. Elastic hems allow quick fitting in minutes and eyelets allow a permanent fix for long term vehicle storage. The kit is supplied with its own handy storage bag for keeping tidy when not in use.

The car storage kit is available in various sizes for virtually every car on the road and costs £69 including free delivery when ordered online. A range of motor cycle and breathable caravan covers is also available.

Everything required to prepare a vehicle for winter storage is available from carparts-direct.co.uk.