Around Russia by car: how to prepare for a trip in the cold season

It is still unknown when international tourism will recover from the pandemic and familiar routes will return. That is why many Russians are now choosing vacation destinations within the country. And it is quite possible to reach some of them by car – so you can add pleasant road adventures to your trip, and in some cases you can save money on tickets. Together with Rosneft we tell you how to prepare for traveling by car in the cold season and what to take care of first.

Have your car inspected

Safety in a trip, especially a long one, should be in the first place. To avoid sudden breakdowns, malfunctions and other unpleasant surprises on the way, you should thoroughly check the car before the trip. Do not be lazy and pass a technical inspection. It is better to spend time and be sure of your car than to ruin the whole trip.

Take care of food on the road in advance

Think about what you’ll be snacking on the road, especially if you’re diet-conscious and unhealthy snacks like chips and candy bars aren’t for you. If the gaps between rest stops aren’t that long, you can grab something light like granola bars, fruit potato chips, nuts or candied fruit.

If it’s a long journey or you’re worried that roadside cafes won’t have anything healthy to eat, you can take ready-made food in a cooler bag. As a rule, even gas stations have a microwave, so it is possible to heat up a meal.

Don’t forget to stock up on food and drinking water for 2-3 days for emergencies. In such a case, it’s always better to be reinsured.

Check the rubber

Pay special attention to car tires. Study the roads on the route and make sure your tires are suitable for them. If on some European highways equipped with heating, you can drive with non-spiked tires even in winter, then on off-road and icy roads it is definitely not possible to drive that way.

Think about transporting bulky equipment

If you need large items for your trip – skis, snowboards, boats, camping equipment – think in advance about how you will transport them. In some cars, you can increase the trunk by folding down the rear seats.

However, this option is not suitable if you are traveling with a large company. In this case, it is worth thinking about buying a special luggage box. As a rule, it is attached to the roof of the car, and its capacity depends on your needs and the dimensions of the car.

Choose places for pitstops

Before your trip, build a route and mark the places for stops and rests. Riding in one position for long periods of time is uncomfortable and bad for your body. During pitstops, try to stretch by stretching or doing a few exercises to loosen up stiff muscles.

Also, don’t forget about gas stations. You should also find and mark gas stations on the way in advance. And always keep a can of gasoline in the trunk – just in case.

Think about overnight stays

When the journey takes more than one day, it’s worth taking care of a place to sleep. If you like the night under the open sky, you can bring a tent and sleeping bags and stay in places specially designated for motorists. But it is not safe to camp in the middle of the forest or by the road.

If you prefer comfort, book a motel or hotel along the way.

Download maps to your GPS

All the maps you need on the road can be downloaded to your smartphone so that you can use them even offline. However, the best option would be a GPS navigator. If suddenly your smartphone does not have such a function, download maps to the device in advance, so that in case of loss of mobile connection you are not left without hints.

Choose the right motor oil

There are nine different natural zones on the territory of Russia, and going on a long trip across the country, you can cross several of them. At the same time, weather conditions can be unpredictable. Not only should you be prepared for them, but also the car engine. Who would want to suddenly stall in the middle of the highway “Moscow – Vladivostok”?

An excellent choice for our travelers and just motorists will be fully synthetic energy-saving motor oil Magnum Rosneft, which is suitable for the unique conditions of Russia, meets the world standards and requirements of leading manufacturers. It provides reliable protection of engine parts from wear and prolongs its service life.

The line is based on the principle of customization, so each oil in this series (Ultratec FE, Ultratec A3, Ultratec, Coldtec, Runtec, Maxtec and Cleantec) has maximally enhanced performance properties important for a particular area of application – whether driving in the city or in areas with extremely low temperatures, on a car made in Korea or in Europe. In this series, you will definitely find a product that is suitable for your route and its natural features.

Which oil do you choose?