Owning a car is no simple feat. You need to treat your car with love and care, just like your pet. With the advent of the digital revolution, the process of buying one might have become simple, provided you have the money. However, maintaining it in perfect condition is quite hard. And things can get tougher in winter. A car can look like a complex and tough piece of machinery, but it is quite delicate when subject to certain conditions. And it requires extra attention during the winter.
However, not every car will break down as often. Some vehicles are pretty tough and they almost never break down. For example, Honda Odyssey is definitely more reliable than a Pacifica. These require less attention as compared to the ones which aren’t as reliable.
But the fact that winter takes a toll on every car holds true. It doesn’t matter how reliable the car is, if something is frozen, it surely won’t work. There are lots of problems, but let’s have a look at the most common ones –
1. Dead battery
This is probably the most common problem during the winter. An average car battery can actually lose about 10% of its charge capacity during the winter. You could either investigate the cause and fix it, or you could just get a new battery.
2. Drop in Tire Pressure
Another common problem during winter is the drop in the tire pressure. As a matter of fact, tire pressure drops by one PSI for every 10-degree drop in temperature. A swift drop in the temp can also lead to tire cracks leading to faster wear and tear of the tire. You definitely don’t want to drive with worn-out tires.
3. Increase in Fluid viscosity
Yes, fluids can get viscous at low temp. Cars contain various fluids, such as engine oil, transmission fluid, coolant, wiper fluid and more; all of which can become viscous or frozen solid during winter. This increases drag and some parts might wear and tear. If unchecked, it could do some real damage to your powertrain.
4. Problems with spark plug
The cold winter is also quite unforgiving for your spark plug. With enough drop in temperature, the spark plug might actually start to crack or corrode. This will obviously reduce your fuel efficiency and cause huge problems later on if not taken care of.
5. Weak starter motor
A starter motor is, well, responsible for starting your engine. However, during winter, it needs to work harder to turn the engine on, since it needs more time and energy to heat things up. This has a negative effect on it and definitely puts a lot of stress on it. The bad news is that there isn’t much you can do to help this, but it is good to be aware of it.
There are some ways you can get around or prevent these problems altogether. Here are some tips which you can follow to make sure that your car stays healthy during winter.
6. Basic maintenance
This is a simple tip but one that goes a long way in ensuring the optimal performance of your car. Before winter kicks in, take your car for scheduled maintenance at your nearest dealership. If something is a miss, repair/ replace it immediately. This tip holds true all throughout the year, irrespective of the season.
7. Warming up the car
Before you start on your journey, keep the engine running in idle for a few minutes. Modern cars do not require this step as they are way more advanced now, but older cars do. When you warm your car up, it makes sure that the engine oil reaches every corner and the engine is well lubricated. It also makes sure that the engine is heated up for optimal performance.
8. Checking battery health
Like we mentioned earlier, a battery can slowly lose its charge capacity during the winter. Also, if your battery is old, it might actually die during the winter. The distilled water inside the battery might get frozen and can cause irreparable damage. You can take your car to a mechanic and have the battery checked for you. If its charge capacity is low, top it up with distilled water. If you notice leaks or salt formation on the terminals, replace the battery immediately.
9. Ensuring optimal tire pressure
Air contracts when it is cold and expands when it is hot. So, during winter, your tire pressure is expected to drop. Low tire pressure can cause instability while on the road and may lead to loss of control. Most modern cars come with a standard TPMS system which alerts you if there is a drop in pressure. Get it checked immediately.
10. Checking exterior lights
It goes without saying that you must make sure that your car’s exterior lighting system is in perfect condition before going out on a cold winter night. If your headlights are poor or one of them is short circuited, replace it immediately. Because they affect your visibility significantly. Also, fog lights are the most important during the winter, especially if you live in an area where dense fogs are a common occurrence. If your car does not have a fog light, make sure to get one.
11. Checking windshield wiper and wiper fluid
During winter, your windshield will more likely get fogged up. This will not only reduce your visibility, but might also completely cut you off from seeing the surroundings. You must make sure that your wipers are working properly before setting out. Also, you could use a dehumidifier pack inside the cabin which prevents fogging up.
12. Checking Antifreeze/coolant level
Coolant is responsible for keeping your engine cool during summer. However, the same fluid also acts as antifreeze during winter. Basically, the constituents of this fluid make sure that the engine keeps running at an acceptable temperature no matter how cold it gets. So, you must check on your coolant levels and top up if necessary.
