Cars are very similar to the human body. Like the body, it has parts that should be working properly and collaboratively for it to perform its function. Like cars, the body needs to be regularly checked up, maintained, and taken care of in general. Similar to how the body reacts to the cold weather, your cars can be affected, worse—damaged by the winter season too!
Thankfully, there are gloves, jackets, scarves, and boots to cover up your body during winter. This can prevent you from feeling the extreme cold and getting sick. However, cars don’t have this option.
What many car owners don’t know is that the cold weather can damage their vehicles. Auto experts say the cold weather can cause damage to all parts of vehicles over time, especially when the temperatures dip well below zero.
Here are five of the biggest ways cold can affect and damage your vehicle:
Cars are very similar to the human body. Like the body, it has parts that should be working properly and collaboratively for it to perform its function. Like cars, the body needs to be regularly checked up, maintained, and taken care of in general. Similar to how the body reacts to the cold weather, your cars can be affected, worse—damaged by the winter season too!
Thankfully, there are gloves, jackets, scarves, and boots to cover up your body during winter. This can prevent you from feeling the extreme cold and getting sick. However, cars don’t have this option.
What many car owners don’t know is that the cold weather can damage their vehicles. Auto experts say the cold weather can cause damage to all parts of vehicles over time, especially when the temperatures dip well below zero.
Here are five of the biggest ways cold can affect and damage your vehicle.
Battery drain
Did you know your car’s Battery Can Die in Colder Weather? Researches have found out that the cold weather can be especially hard on car batteries. According to AAA’s Automotive Research Center, at 0°F, a car’s battery loses about 60 percent of its strength and at 32°F it loses 35 percent. Driving during cold temperatures can take up to twice as much current as needed under normal conditions. A cold battery has reduced cranking power, and cold temperatures thicken motor oil, making it harder to turn the engine over. A typical battery is most comfortable between 30 and 90 F, so anything below that lower end will give you trouble.
Warning signs that you are at risk for a battery related breakdown during winter may include the following:
- a grinding or clicking sound when you turn on the ignition,
- vehicle cranks slowly when attempting to start.
- headlights dim when idling but brighten when the engine is revved.
- battery is more than three (3) years old.
Keeping vehicles in a garage while not in use is one definite way to ensure they will start in subzero conditions. However, if you don’t have a garage, it’s important to have it checked by your mechanic before winter starts.
Thickening of engine fluids
This is basic science: liquids can solidify or thicken when exposed to a certain temperature. The same thing happens to your car’s fluids including oil, antifreeze, power steering, brake, and transmission fluids. When it gets cold, fluids thicken and that will make it harder for your car to get the fluids it need to run properly. When these fluids are thickened, they are likely to move less freely within your car’s systems. Fluids need to maintain in liquid state so that it can flow quickly and wont delay responses.
To counter this, experts recommend that you leave your car’s engine running for at least 10 minutes to warm up the fluids. In addition, you should consider changing your car fluids before temperatures fall. Maintaining the fluids at recommended levels is equally advisable.
Lesser Tyre Pressure
The cold season can drastically lessen your tyre’s air pressure. Studies say that most tyres lose 1 pound per square inch (psi) for every 10 F of temperature drop.
Tyre pressure also decreases when your car is stationary. Under-inflated tyres do not perform well and are subject to damage or failure especially in snow and icy conditions. Moreover, driving around with low tyre pressure could mean premature tyre wear or potential tread separation, which in turn could lead to a major, if not fatal accident.
Car owners should regularly check the tyre pressure indicator on your dashboard every time the car is started. This will help in avoiding car problems that are related to too low or high tyre pressure. Normally, such problems lead to irregular wear and tear, something that shortens the lifespan of your tyre. In addition, it can cause a total tyre blowout during your drive.
Poor ignition
Your car’s Spark Plug Reliability drastically weakens During Winter. A bad spark plug, ignition component or clogged filter may cause your vehicle not to start. Also, worn or cracked spark plugs reduce fuel efficiency. Idling your car to warm it up, using more heat, and increased engine friction all contribute to wasted energy.
Frozen Windshield Wipers
Blades get torn and wiper transmissions break because extreme weather can overpower the freezing point of the washer fluid. They are just rubber and pressure from snow, ice and slush will break them. It is easy to break windshield wipers in winter because they can freeze to the glass, or get torn on ice and sleet. The worst time to realize it is time to replace windshield wipers need to be replaced is during a downpour or blizzard.
Replace your vehicle’s wiper blades as soon as there are signs of natural wear and tear. One way to prepare for this foreseen problem is opting for Winter wiper blades, which are specifically constructed for icy conditions. This style of wiper blades has no metal points, so snow and ice cannot accumulate on them. Another way to prevent damaged wipers is by thoroughly cleaning your windshield of snow and ice before getting on the road. Protecting your wiper blades after they have been replaced is even more essential.
Cars need regular check ups and maintenance, especially during winter. You can easily avoid the hassle of car repairs of these common problems with basic routine maintenance to keep your tyres, engine fluids, car battery, and ignition components in tip-top shape.
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