Winter Prep for Your UAZ – How to Keep It Alive in the Cold
When the temperature drops below zero and your breath turns to fog, that’s when a UAZ feels most at home. These vans were born for frozen roads, snow drifts, and long Siberian nights. But even a Bukhanka or Hunter needs some love to handle winter the Russian way. Prepare it right, and it’ll start on the first turn while modern SUVs sit frozen in silence.
Start with the Basics
Winter kills weak batteries and old oil. Check your battery voltage and clean the terminals. Use 10W-40 or 5W-40 oil for easier cold starts — thick oil is your enemy. Replace the fuel filter if it’s older than six months; condensation in the tank can freeze and block it overnight. And keep the tank at least half full — less air means less moisture.
Inspect every hose and clamp. Cold rubber cracks fast, and metal shrinks just enough to loosen connections. Tighten everything now, before the first snow hits. Remember: a UAZ doesn’t leak, it marks territory — but in winter, you want to keep those marks minimal.
Protecting the Cooling System
Old coolant loses its antifreeze properties. Test it or replace it completely — proper protection should reach at least –40 °C. Clean out the radiator fins and make sure the fan clutch engages. Many UAZ drivers in Russia block half of the radiator with cardboard when temperatures stay below –20 °C. It keeps the engine warm and the heater functional — low-tech, high-impact.
Rust Never Sleeps
Salt is brutal. Wash your undercarriage after every wet drive and spray a layer of oil or wax on the frame and leaf springs. In Russia, some use old diesel-oil mix as a cheap protective coating. It smells terrible, but it works. Pay special attention to door sills, wheel arches, and seams — these are the first to rust once snow starts melting.
Keep It Breathing
Cold air makes carburetors run lean. Adjust the mixture slightly richer and check the choke cable for smooth movement. On fuel-injected models, clean the idle valve and throttle body. A few minutes of preventive care can save hours of frozen troubleshooting later.
True Russian Tips
“A UAZ starts best after tea.”
Warm yourself first, then warm the van. Use a small electric heater or even a camping stove under the sump for ten minutes before starting in extreme cold. Many northern drivers also remove their battery at night and keep it indoors — it’s old-fashioned, but it guarantees life in the morning.
Carry a small thermos of hot water. Pouring a little over frozen locks or the fuel pump helps more than any de-icer spray. And if all else fails, remember: a UAZ always starts — eventually.
Final Thoughts
Winter doesn’t have to be the enemy. With proper oil, clean fuel, and a bit of old-school preparation, your UAZ will thrive in the cold. Treat it like a comrade, not a machine — talk to it, check it, warm it — and it’ll carry you through snowstorms when others stay home. Because for real UAZ drivers, frost is just another adventure.