AN expert mechanic has warned drivers over a deadly duo of winter motor mistakes that could cost them hundreds and leave them stranded in the cold.
With the weather turning icy, it’s more important than ever to make sure you know how to keep your car on the road.
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Fortunately, Scotty Kilmer, who has spent more than 50 years fixing cars, shared a couple of top tips exclusively with The Sun Online.
First of all, he urged motorists not to be caught out by a little-known fuel tank error.
Scotty said: “Don’t run your tank low as there’s a lot of water vapour in the air.
“If it’s cold then the water vapour can freeze and you can get stuck, so I always make a point of filling the car up more often in the winter.”
This is especially important in the UK, where cold, damp winters are the standard.
The best solution, as Scotty suggested, is to keep the tank topped up to reduce the amount of water vapour allowed into the engine.
Other good options include specialist fuel additives which can help prevent freezing in the fuel lines.
These can be picked up online for as little as £8 for a 350ml bottle.
Secondly, the motors whizz addressed a common winter gripe for UK drivers: batteries.
He explained: “You might as well get your battery tested.
“Batteries cost a tonne of money if you’re stuck in the middle of nowhere.
“If you get a call out it could be like £150 but you could go to [a shop] and buy that same battery for like £50.
“If you put it off, you’ll be at the mercy of whoever’s got a battery near you and they can charge whatever they want.”
It’s especially vital to make sure your battery is in good order when the weather gets cold as the winter chill can affect its efficiency.
Batteries generate power through the reaction between metal plates and an electrolyte-heavy fluid.
When the battery gets cold the reaction takes longer to occur and so the battery puts out less power.
Many auto parts outlets, like Halfords, offer free battery checks or you can even pick up a voltage checker and do it at home.
Indeed, Scotty previously revealed how a simple battery cleaning job could be a real saviour this winter.
It comes after road users were warned they could be hit with fines of up to £10,000 for making a little-known tyre mistake in the cold.
