Probably, no driver needs to be reminded that winter is the most difficult period for a car of the year. In winter, many automotive systems are subjected to particularly severe tests. This applies to both gasoline-powered vehicles and popular diesel engines. You could even say that this is especially true for diesel engines.
Long list of winter threats
The list of individual systems, components and parts of cars that are especially susceptible to increased loads or all types of breakdowns in winter is equal to the length of Santa's beard. This is one of the reasons why it is worth adding a certain ritual to the calendar to prepare the car for difficult and extremely adverse conditions. Do not count on a warming climate or an extremely mild winter. A brief drop in temperature is enough for our machine to fail. There can be many reasons for such a refusal. A completely dead battery, frozen locks, unmodified tires and - what not everyone seems to remember - frozen water in the fuel system. All of the above situations can occur on both petrol and diesel vehicles.
Checking for water in the system
Checking the fuel system water is there, it should be a mandatory winterization point for anyone who has a diesel car. In modern cars, the driver is informed about the presence of water in the system using a special light bulb that lights up orange when the engine is started and remains on for a few more seconds after that. However, if the car does not have such an indicator, we must verify the presence of water ourselves. To do this, drain some oil from the fuel filter. The plug that we can use to drain the oil is located just below the filter. Slightly loosen the faucet, put a flexible hose on the rubber connector and place a small transparent vessel at the end of it. Water in the oil drained from the system will be visible at a glance. Since it is heavier, it settles in a layer at the bottom of the pan. If we notice any amount of water in the drained oil, we must - in order to keep the car running and our own safety - take appropriate measures. Which?
Removing water from the fuel system
By far the easiest way to get rid of water from the fuel system is to use a so-called depressant. A depressant is a special drug that combines water with fuel (prevents its precipitation). One bottle of depressant is enough for a full tank and costs from ten to several dozen zlotys. So pour the depressant into the container, and then leave the entire container to the end. At the next gas station (but not before!) we will also need to change the fuel filter. That's all. The depressant along with the filter change will ensure a smooth ride all winter long.