Affects of Cold Temperatures

This week we will be experiencing very cold temperatures. This can have a negative affect on your vehicle.

Here are a few tips for this week:

Be sure to remove all snow and ice from your vehicle. It’s the law!

Problem: Low Tire Pressure

As the air in your tires gets colder, it contracts and has less pressure. Tires correspondingly become underinflated.

Solution: Check your tire pressure more often than you normally would. The Car Care Council recommends doing so once a week. You might think a little deflation provides better traction, but it’s not recommended to running tires below manufacturers’ recommended pressure, as that can cause uneven or unsafe tread wear. Getting winter tires is a good idea in states with inclement weather.

Problem: Dead Battery

Winter is especially hard on batteries. If your car won’t start in the extreme cold, one of the most likely problems is that the battery is dead.

Solution: The good news is that it can be an easy fix: jumper cables are not hard to use. But to avoid a dead battery altogether, is to keep its connections clean, tight, and free of corrosion. It also recommends replacing batteries that are more than three years old. Those in the coldest climates may want to purchase a battery warmer, available at most auto parts stores or online. The warmers typically cost between $30 and $70.

Problem: Ice in the Fuel Line

Unless you live somewhere where the temperature gets down to 100 degrees below zero, the gasoline in your car will not freeze. However, water moisture in the gas lines can become icy. “In regard to fuel, one of the things we do see, if there’s any water content inside the fuel tank, that water can freeze and clog fuel pickup.

Solution: Keep the tank at least half full.