How Cold Weather Impacts Your Car and What You Can Do About It

Hello, winter, my old friend. It seems you only left us a few sunny weeks ago, and now the flakes are flying again. Today, we are talking about how lower temperatures can affect vehicle systems and how to keep your car in tip-top shape for the winter months.

Car driving on snowy road with headlights on.

Tire Pressure

During colder weather, the pressure inside your tires drops, and tires become underinflated. Check your tire pressure more often than usual to ensure tires are properly inflated to avoid uneven wear on the tire tread and make sure your tire pressure monitoring system is working correctly.

Dead Battery

Nothing is worse than when your car won’t start, and you’ve got places to be. It’s even worse when it’s freezing outside. A quick jump start can get you back on the road again once you find a buddy to help you out. Want to keep the battery from leaving you out in the cold? Keep the battery connections clean, tightly connected, and free of corrosion. The Car Care Council recommends replacing the battery every three years. Keeping a battery jumper or set of cables in your car is always a good idea.

Thick Oil

A drop in temperature means a drop in oil viscosity. Thicker oil is more challenging for the engine to use efficiently. Most modern cars and oils can handle a variety of temps. On rare occasions a manufacturer may recommend synthetic low-viscosity oil for extreme climate areas, like Alaska. You can check your owner’s manual for recommendations to make sure. 

Snow covered car on street.

Frosty the Windshield

If the defrost function is not up to par, frost can develop on the inside of the windshield, wiping out your ability to see. Before the weather gets too chilly, make sure the heating and defrost functions are in good working order. Keeping the inside windshield clean will work wonders.

Windshield Wipers

Over time and with extreme temps, the rubber on your windshield wipers can become cracked and crumbly. Some windshield fluid doesn’t work well in harsher climates, leading to a less-than-transparent windshield. Check those windshield wiper blades to be sure they are in good condition. Also, remember to turn off your windshield wipers before shutting the car off to prevent damage if they become iced over and try to move when the car is restarted.

Anti Antifreeze

If the engine coolant, aka antifreeze, is old or has the incorrect mix of water to coolant- it will not be able to do its job. 100% antifreeze actually has a higher freeze point than antifreeze mixed with water. Be sure your car has the correct mixture to protect your engine. The Car Care Council recommends a coolant flush every two years.

Car engine drive belt.

Brittle Belts

Some serpentine belts break more easily when it gets cold. Low temperatures can also make belts less pliable and able to bend. Make sure they are in good shape before the weather turns.

Sluggish Electric Vehicles

When the temperatures drop, the battery chemistry slows, meaning it takes more energy to warm up the engine, the cabin, and you. Keeping the battery at an operating temperature continues to use more power, so you may have less range than you planned. Don’t get stuck with a dead battery during a snowstorm.

Your mechanic can perform a winter inspection to check all these issues and ensure your vehicle is prepared for the winter weather.