5 Ways The Cold Weather Can Damage Your Car

In the cold weather your car’s fluids, oil, antifreeze, transmission fluid, etc. become more viscous, or thicken which causes the fluids to move less freely.

Fluids are not thin enough in their cold state to be forced through internal seals, which can cause them to tear the seals or cause internal issues.

It’s always a good idea to change your fluids before temperatures plummet, and to ensure fluids are at the proper level.

When the temperatures outside plummet, your car’s battery works harder to start the car. Your cars starting capacity is reduced in below-freezing weather.

If your car battery is quite old you should consider purchasing a new one before Winter sets in, or take it to your local garage so they can check its capacity.

In extreme temperatures tyre pressure can fluctuate. In cold temperatures tyre pressure can decrease at rest and increase when the car is moving.

If your tyre pressure light comes on you should inspect the tyre.

Driving with low or too much tyre pressure can lead to uneven wear and a shortened lifespan for the tyre. It can also lead to a tyre blowout.

Snow or ice isn’t the only problem drivers deal with on the roads. In order to melt ice and snow the DOE treat the roads with salt/grit.

Salt can stick to your cars metal components, the undercarriage, the wheel arches and the brakes. If the salt is not removed it can cause them to corrode.

We would advise that you wash your car frequently during the Winter months to eliminate salt.

If there is salt on your car do not use a cloth to wipe it as it will scratch the paintwork.

When water seeps into cracks on the road, the pavement chips away and potholes can form during a constant freeze-thaw cycle.

Similar damage occurs to cars. The metal and plastic on your car will collect condensation when it constantly goes from cold to warm and back to cold again.

Condensation turns to water which then turns to ice. Ice in the power steering, brake or engine transmission systems can and will cause leaks in high and low pressure systems.

Leaks in the cars steering or braking system could be potentially hazardous if a malfunction occurs.

We recommend that you flush all the fluids before Winter and warm your car up before driving.