How Cold Affects Cars

Slowly but surely Autumn is creeping up on us and soon Winter will make its entrance with a matching drop in temperatures. Granted, New Zealand is not quite like Siberia, but it is cold enough that it will affect vehicles and a little TLC will certainly not be wasted.

Here are the most common problems for cars in Winter, and what to do about them.

Deflated tyres

Gases contract with low temperatures and expand with warmth, and it happens to the air in your tyres too, leading to deflation in the winter. Although slightly flat tyres may provide better traction on slippery ground, it never is a good idea to keep the pressure of your tyres below the manufacturers’ recommended pressure. It can damage the inside of the tyre, cause unsafe tread wear and it will also increase your fuel consumption. So check your tyre pressure more often than you normally would and top it up as needed.

If traction is a problem, consider investing in winter tyres or even snow chains.

Dead battery

The cold is particularly harsh on batteries and if your car won’t start, it is likely that it will have discharged.

Luckily, this is an easy problem to solve.

If there are any cars nearby, and sympathetic owners, all you need is jumper cables to restart your car. However, you will need to drive for a while to recharge it before you stop your car or it will die again.

Checking the battery’s connections regularly and making sure that they are clean and corrosion free is always time well spent. You can also purchase a battery warmer to mitigate the effect of the cold, or a trickle charger which will deliver a low current continuously.

If you are not going to use your car for a while, you can disconnect the negative cable of the battery.

Thicker oil

Oil gets thicker when the weather is colder and this can put a strain on the engine which has to work harder. There isn’t such a difference in temperatures in New Zealand that your car will really be affected, except if you live or are going to stay in the mountains. In that case, it is worth checking your owner’s manual to see what is recommended in terms of viscosity.

Lethargic screens

A lot of modern cars use LCD screens to display information on the dashboard or in media equipment. LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display, and the molecules in the liquid are also affected by the cold. In winter, you may therefore find that your screens are rather sluggish. There isn’t much you can do about it except wait for the car to warm up. You can try installing an engine-block heater to speed things up.

Engine performance

During the winter, the demands on your engine increase which can result in a sluggish behaviour.

Engines have to reach a certain temperature to work at their best. When the thermometer drops, it will therefore take longer to reach it which means higher fuel consumption. Cold air is heavier than warm air, creating more drag, which means that your engine will also have to work harder as you pick up speed.

Spark plugs can be affected too: the battery being less powerful can cause resistance in electrical circuits, including the ignition, and can fail to provide your vehicle’s spark plugs with enough energy. Check their overall state at the beginning of the winter as well as their gapping - correctly gapped spark plugs need less energy to get your engine running.

If you are thinking of replacing the spark plugs with hotter ones to improve sluggish morning starts, don’t as it will make no difference and could only damage your vehicle. Stick with the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Windshield frozen on the inside

You can’t drive without visibility and that is what happens when a windshield freezes on the inside. Newer vehicles have a defrost function so make sure that it is in good working order before winter.

If you have an older model, you will have to go with low-tech, old-school tricks. The best way is, as often, prevention. Frost forms on the inside because of excess moisture in the cabin. If you keep your car in a garage, leave the windows slightly open so that air can circulate. Clean the inside glass to remove the dirt particles around which frost will congregate. You can also buy sprays that prevent frost and some that de-ice when a windshield is already frozen.

Whichever method works for you, remember to wipe the glass dry painstakingly once it is defrosted as any moisture left on it will refreeze as you drive.

Ineffective antifreeze

Antifreeze, or engine coolant, won’t be as effective if the temperature is low. The ratio of coolant to water is also important. Never add 100% of antifreeze as it actually has a lower freezing point than when mixed with water.

The best solution is to use antifreeze made for cooler temperatures. If you are an enthusiastic DIYer, you can check its freezing point with a refractometer.

It is usually recommended to change the coolant completely every other year in any case.

Like the old saying goes, ‘A stitch in time saves nine’! Having your car serviced regularly will ensure that problems are picked up early on and will save you from having to cancel plans at the last minute or from waiting by a road for hours for the breakdown people to come and rescue you. It is frustrating enough when the weather is mild, but think about how it would feel like in the middle of winter when it is cold and wet!

If you are looking for a specialist in vehicle shipping, get in touch with us. We have over 25 years’ experience transporting cars, vans, caravans and motorhomes all around the world and we pride ourselves in making the process stress free for our clients. Call our friendly team on +64 9 309 11 63 or request a free quote online.