8 Automotive Problems Caused By Cold Weather

Here in Indiana, the changing seasons and packed all sorts of aspects of our lives. During the winter, even our cars can suffer certain mechanical failures or difficulties. From your car battery and motor oil to your windshield wipers, fuel lines, and even interior cabin LCD screens, cold-weather and freezing temperatures can bring about a long list of automotive challenges. Fortunately, with proper routine maintenance, most of these wintertime vehicular problems can be avoided.

Continue reading to learn the top 8 automotive problems caused by cold weather, how to prevent them, and what you can do to resolve them if they happen to you this season.

Winter Car Maintenance Carmel Indiana 317-571-0800
Winter Car Maintenance Carmel Indiana 317-571-0800

8 Ways the Cold Winter Season Affects Your Car

Windshield Wipers

In temperatures cold enough, windshield wipers can pose all sorts of problems. Windshield wiper fluid can freeze, leaving drivers without a means to rinse their front windshields of slush and dirt brought on by the winter precipitation and climate. Also, the rubber components on windshield wiper blades can freeze or lose moisture. This causes them to turn brittle and break off in pieces. It is recommended to keep an extra set of windshield wiper blades and a bottle of fluid in your vehicle for these kinds of seasonal windshield wiper problems.  

LCD Screens

Crystal display LCD screens have the tendency to slow down during the colder winter months. LCD screens become sluggish this time of year because the molecules in the liquid crystals partially freeze. If your screens are delayed, allow your vehicle to heat up for 20 minutes or so. This should help thaw out the liquid crystal displays enough to get them working at a more functional speed again.

Tires

Underinflated tires are a very common automotive problem in the wintertime, and one that you should always be expecting. The cold temperatures because the tire walls to contract, which causes the tire to lose pressure and become underinflated. It is important to routinely check your tire pressure, especially if you are preparing to head on the road for a long trip. Keep handy tire gauge in your car so that you can measure the air in your tires on demand. The recommended PSI for car tires varies depending on the tire brand and the make and model of your vehicle. Talk to your local Carmel Indianapolis mechanic for advice on proper tire inflation for your car or truck.

Car Battery

Dead car batteries are another common wintertime seasonal automotive problem. Like LCD screens and the air inside of car tires, cold or freezing temperatures cause the electrolyte liquid inside of your batteries to freeze or thicken. As a result, a car battery will lose power. Fortunately, solving a dead battery problem is easy. All you need are set of jumper cables and a pal whose vehicle still has engine power. Jump-starting a dead car battery is simple and can be done on your own. You can look up instructions in your owner’s manual or online through a trusted source.

Motor Oil

Like many other things in your vehicle, the motor oil can thicken up significantly in cold winter temperatures. In fact, the colder it gets, the thicker oil becomes. In especially freezing temperatures, namely below 20°F, motor oil can become so thick that the engine oil pump has trouble circulating it through the necessary channels. To help prevent this, switch to a low viscosity motor oil in the winter. This will help reduce the rate at which your motor oil freezes as temperatures drop.

Antifreeze

There is a bit of a pattern   when it comes to wintertime automotive problems. Antifreeze, also referred to as coolant, can also be affected by freezing temperatures in cold weather. This is especially true if the water-to-coolant ratios are off in your vehicle. If your coolant ratios are and balanced, it reduces its ability to protect your engine from inclement winter elements. Because 100% antifreeze has a higher freezing point, it is recommended to dilute it with water in the winter. This will help you avoid having any antifreeze problems. You can also buy an automotive tool called a refractometer that will check your coolant’s freezing point. proper care

Fuel Lines

Just like many of the things in your car during the winter, fuel lines can freeze over. Water inside the gas lines can turn icy in extreme cold temperatures, which can clog the fuel pump. Frozen fuel lines are a common wintertime automotive problem, but 100% avoidable with a little preventative maintenance. Professionals recommend keeping your fuel tank half-full during the coldest parts of the season.

Serpentine Belts

In the automotive mechanic industry, the term “snow snake”is used to colloquially describe frozen serpentine belts. Result in complete automotive breakdown. Serpentine belts can freeze over to the point that they snap or break apart, which will result in total automotive breakdown. Generally, this happens to older serpentine belts. So, if your car is fairly new, you may not have to worry about this problem. If your car is a bit older, you can avoid snow snakes by taking your vehicle into your local Carmel IN mechanic for a pre-winter inspection. This will ensure that your serpentine belts are in good shape to come and commit weather conditions.

Does your luxury or European vehicle require winter automotive service? Contact Autohaus Dierolf at 317-571-0800 for factory scheduled car maintenance in Carmel, Indianapolis. We are German-trained mechanics specializing in European make and model vehicles.

Related Posts:

When Should I Change the Coolant in My Car?
How Does Tire Width Affect Gas Mileage in Cars?
Top 5 Car Parts Affected By Cold Weather

European Auto Repair and Service - Carmel Indiana 317-577-0800
European Auto Repair and Service – Carmel Indiana 317-577-0800