Driving in winter: Expert tips help to heat properly
Created: 01/16/2023, 06:00
By: Simon Mones
When it gets really cold in winter, drivers have to turn on the heating.
The tips from the experts ensure a warm interior and help to save.
In the winter, motorists face temperatures near or below freezing.
The car must then be cleared of ice and snow, otherwise high fines could quickly follow.
Meanwhile, the interior is transformed into a cooling chamber.
The heater can help, but how does it actually work?
This question may sound strange, but there are actually some mistakes that are easy to avoid.
With a few tips from ATU expert Franz Eiber, the interior can be brought to a comfortable temperature quickly and without consuming a lot of energy.
In winter, heating is essential.
Some expert tips will help you use it correctly.
©Panthermedia/Imago
Driving in winter: Expert tips help to heat properly
What motorists should avoid under all circumstances is to let the engine warm up while stationary.
While this may sound tempting, it is not a solution.
Quite the opposite: When stationary, the engine needs significantly longer to reach operating temperature and consumes fuel unnecessarily.
This not only harms the environment, but can also quickly result in a fine of 80 euros.
On the other hand, it is better to turn on the air conditioning even in winter.
Instead of cool temperatures, this ensured that the humidity in the heated cockpit remained low during the cold season.
This prevents the windows from fogging up and impairing visibility.
However, the air conditioning only works at temperatures above five degrees Celsius.
"If it's colder, most air conditioning systems switch off automatically to prevent icing," emphasizes Eiber.
Regular maintenance is also important.
Driving in winter: an expert explains how to set the heating correctly
The ATU expert also advises against keeping your jacket on in the car in winter.
The reason: In the event of an accident, the seat belt may not hold properly.
It is therefore better to switch on the seat heating.
If this is not available, heated seat covers are also suitable as an alternative.
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Another factor is the correct setting of the heating.
If the windshield is fogged up, Eiber advises setting the fan to the highest level and directing the air onto the window.
Only when the view is clear should drivers concern themselves with regulating the temperature.
"The blower is reduced to medium strength and the nozzles are set to the windshield and footwell position," says the ATU expert.
The heat can then rise from below and heat up the interior.
A temperature of 20 to 21 degrees is ideal.
Driving in winter: Electric car drivers can also save on heating
Drivers should also switch off power guzzlers such as heated windows and exterior mirrors after use in winter.
After all, these have no influence on the temperature in the interior, but consume electricity unnecessarily.
A heated steering wheel and auxiliary heating, on the other hand, are significantly more energy-efficient.
The energy consumption for preheating is almost balanced out in the latter due to the lack of a cold start.
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Of course, you can also save money with an electric car.
Compared to the combustion engine, the Stromer have the advantage that warm air flows immediately into the interior due to the electric heating.
If you want to save electricity, you should therefore lower the temperature or switch to circulating air completely.
“If e-drivers are driving alone, it is often sufficient to switch on the heated seats and steering wheel.
Both affect the battery performance to a much lesser extent than the electric auxiliary heater,” emphasizes Eiber.
Another advantage: Electric cars can be preheated using the preheating function or auxiliary heating.
This means that it is nice and warm when you get in and there is no annoying scratching.
However, the expert advises connecting the car to the wall box or a charging station so as not to reduce battery performance.