Can Your Car Handle the Cold?

Posted January 19, 2017

Winter is hard on all of us. Our skin is dry, our hair is brittle, and our teeth are chattering but have you ever stopped to think that the cold is hard on your car too? You may only think about this when it sounds like your car just ran a marathon when you try to start it on a cold day. With that in mind, here are some tips for taking care of your car in cold weather:

Plug It in

When the weather is below -15°C, you should plug your car in. When you try to start a cold car, the oil can be too thick to flow properly and start your engine. This is why it may sound like your engine has no juice left in it when you try to start it and it hasn’t been plugged in. Plugging in your car keeps the lubricants warm so that they can quickly flow through your car and help it start easily.

Check under the Hood

It’s always a good idea to check everything under your hood when the cold weather hits. First, check that your battery terminals are all properly connected. Then you should also check the charge on your battery. If your battery isn’t holding a charge anymore, it will probably need replacing. Your battery should be replaced every five years. Inspect your battery for corrosion as well. Sometimes, you can clean the corrosion off the nodes and clamps but if it’s too corroded, it may need replacing.

Check your belts around your engine to make sure that they aren’t cracking or warn. The last thing you want to do is have your belt snap.

While you’re under the hood, you should ensure that all your fluids are topped. Check your windshield washer fluid, antifreeze, and oil.

Get a Clear View

You may not realize it but your wiper blades may need to be replaced twice a year. Wiper blades are an easy and cheap replacement and can make all the difference in your safety on the road.

Keep It Half Full

During the winter you should keep your fuel tank at least half full. This will prevent condensation build up causing your fuel line to freeze. Keeping a full tank will also give you piece of mind if you ever get stranded.

Keep It Full

The cold weather will cause your tires to lose pressure. You should check your tire pressure periodically to ensure that it is still reaching its optimum value; you can find the proper tire pressure recommended for your vehicle on the side door sticker.

Pack It Up

You should always travel with a winter emergency kit but you should especially have it with you in the winter. Your winter emergency car kit should include jumper cables, a flashlight, a jack, a lug wrench, a spare tire, road flares, food, water, a blanket, and a first aid kit.

Following all of these tips will help keep your car running in great condition all winter long. And if you ever have a problem, remember that you can come to any Integra Tire across Canada and we’ll help you out!

 

Questions? Our Advisors are Happy to Help!

If you have questions about anything you've read in this resource page, contact your nearest dealer for more information. We are passionate in assisting our customers make the best choices to keep their vehicles in tip-top shape and keep their families safe.
Resource Tags: Automotive , integra tire , maintenance , mechanical , Tips , tires
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