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Can Your Car Run Too Cold?

can-your-car-run-too-cold

It would interest you to know that automobiles catch some cold too. Just in case you have assumed cold is peculiar to blooded bodies. However, it is my honour to let you know that a non-blooded body like vehicles can also catch a cold and get affected by extremely cold weather. Cold weather makes automobile fluids get thick, reduces battery efficiency, and generally impedes functions in your vehicle.

How Does Cold Weather Affect My Car?

Cold weather can negatively affect your car if you are not careful to prepare and guard against the not friendly season of shrill. The common damage done to most vehicles during the harsh cold season is the impediment it brings to your battery’s life span.

car-in-winter

To further bolster, cold weather results in slowed down chemical reactions in your car’s battery.

This is so because it causes a very sluggish performance resulting in a general efficiency diminishing.

However, it is good that I point to you that older batteries might not even be able to start your car during the cold season. Compared to the recent make of batteries which have some extra power supply based on design.

Does My Car Consume More Fuel During  Cold Weather?

If you guessed the answer is yes, then I would say that you have guessed right! Cold weather affects your fuel economy. This is so because fuel efficiency drops with a decrease in temperature. Moreso, It is good to note that cold weather demands electronic devices in your car, leading to a resultant effect on your engine. Notably, demanding more fuel consumption than normal.

It has been reported that cold weather increases viscosity and thickens fuel state and even oil, leading to friction in-between parts.

What Can I Do To Improve My Car’s Fuel Consumption During Cold weather?

Every problem should have a solution, right? Yea, you are right. However, there should be a working solution to the cold weather’s adverse effect on your vehicle’s performance. Moreover, rather than spelling it out to you in an essay manner, I would like to highlight some of the few things you can do to handle this situation well below:

  • Always Park your car in a garage that is well covered. You can build your garage to suit the cold season by ensuring the place is not overly exposed to direct snow. In addition, you can also use some bulbs to regulate temperature.
  • Make sure you start your car regularly for general heating, especially for the battery and the engine.
  • Avoid leaving the car idle for a long time during the cold season.
  • Ensure that you use specified engine oil that suits the season. Also, ask what type of engine oil is best for your car in cold weather and stick with it.
  • Avoid using unnecessary electronic accessories in your vehicle. For example,  air conditioning. This is not necessary and also requires a battery, which can affect efficient fuel economy.
  • Try to take quick journeys at consistent intervals.
  • You can cover your vehicle with some warm material, preferably leather. This would help avoid direct contact with cold materials like snow and hail.

What Part Of My Vehicle Suffers Most During Cold Weather?

It is good to note that some part of your car tends to be at the receiving end of winter’s harshness more than the other. So let me quickly take you through the common list of the parts of your car that are more affected by cold weather.

Tabulated Info About Parts Of Vehicles That Are More Affected During Winter

BatteryYour battery starts to experience extra stress and also reduces power supply because of the reduction in amperage. However, to handle the situation, you should check your battery condition way before the winter season comes up. Doing this helps to make sure it is in good condition. Moreover, you could also get a battery warmer for your car’s battery.
TiresYou would want to ensure that your tire is in good condition as winter makes the road more difficult to drive through. Moreso, this can cause wear and tear and some adverse traction effects on your tire. So ensure that your tire is properly inspected, or you can invest in getting another tire. Just ensure that whatever you are doing, you have consulted the manufacturer of your vehicle to know what best suits you.
WiperDue to the cold weather and the heavy  downpour of snow or hail, wipers get thorn, and it also goes ahead to affect the transmissions.   However, you can avoid this by ensuring that you set your vehicle’s fan to defrost overnight to help ensure that the cold effect does not take a wicked toll on your wiper.

What Can I do To Prevent Cold Weather Affecting My Car?

You can do the following to help prevent your car from the adverse effect of cold during winter:

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Always fill your tank: doing this helps avoid moisture build-up, which leads to fuel system damage.

Use Suitable Engine Oil: You would want to avoid using too thick engine oil because high viscosity is not a good option for you regarding fuel. Also, please ensure you get the right type of oil suitable for your vehicle in winter.

Ensure Your Battery Is In Good Condition: This cannot be overemphasised. For this reason, you need to check that your battery can go through the winter season. If not, you can consider replacing it as soon as possible to avoid unwanted disappointments.

Conclusion

Having said all, you would want to ensure that you follow this guide. Moreso, use every information provided in this article to prepare for going through the winter season. Depending on which season you are in when you are reading this. It helps to be aware of this to keep your vehicle in good condition and shape and not lose it to the winter season.

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