5 Common Cold Weather Car Problems
Caring for a vehicle during the warm summer can be easy like Sunday morning. As long as you take care of basic maintenance, there isn’t much to worry about. Unfortunately, that changes in the winter, especially if you live in a climate that is prone to freezing temperatures and occasional snowstorms. This weather can present several issues for your car, including the five common cold weather car problems we discuss, below.
Rather than constantly fighting with the cold weather conditions, you might decide to provide your vehicle with a comfortable, protected place to park each night. Carport Kingdom is your best option for a big project like that. Here, we offer outstanding metal garages that are backed by a 20-year rust-free warranty. Start with our Build & Price tool or simply contact us to learn more about how to build your own metal structure.
#1 – Maintaining Tire Pressure
Tire pressure is easy to overlook when you go about your day-to-day routine. Most of the time it will be just fine with minimal attention. However, when the temperatures drop, the air in your tires will contract, and there will be less pressure as a result. So, if you don’t do anything about your tires as summer changes to fall, it’s likely that you’ll be low on pressure, which can lead to tread wear and poor gas mileage.
The solution here, of course, is to check in on your tire pressure and top it off to the levels recommended on the side of your tires. This can be done on your own, or you can stop by a tire shop to have it done.
#2 – Dealing with Corrosion
In climates where cold weather is a common issue, local governments will often apply salt to the roads to help cut down on the number of accidents. The salt can help to melt the ice and reduce slick spots, but it comes with an unwanted side effect – all of that salt can build up on your vehicle and have a corrosive effect. This is an issue that will get worse with time, and eventually, you could be dealing with rust problems.
Even though it’s the middle of a cold winter, consider washing your car periodically with a specific focus on spraying the underside of the vehicle. Even just spraying the vehicle with fresh water alone can help remove salt and prevent corrosion.
#3 – Battery Decline
When your vehicle sits in cold weather, the level of charge within your battery will gradually decline. If you drive every day, this probably won’t be a big deal – it will recharge as you drive around, so a little draining at night isn’t a big problem. However, if you go a few days or more without driving, the drain on your battery could leave your engine unable to start on a cold morning.
One of the best ways to protect against this issue is the solution we mentioned in the introduction – an insulated garage from Carport Kingdom. With one of our quality structures on your property, your vehicle won’t have to live out in the cold, and the stress placed on the battery will be greatly reduced.
#4 – Spark Plug Issues
Spark plugs are always important but making sure yours are in good condition takes on extra importance during the harsh weather of winter. Any issues with your spark plugs could lead to a failure of the vehicle to start up, which would leave you stranded in potentially difficult weather conditions. Consider having the spark plugs checked as part of a maintenance visit so you can have confidence that they are up to the challenge.
#5 – Thick Fluids
There are a variety of fluids that need to work properly inside your vehicle, including the engine oil, brake and transmission fluids, and more. Cold weather conditions can cause some of these to tighten up and get thicker, which will impact how they perform. That means it’s particularly important to make sure the fluids are relatively fresh in the winter months, and that their levels are topped off.
Carport Kingdom Has You Covered
Winter is always going to bring some tough driving conditions, but you can prepare for the season if you pay attention to the five important points above. If you decide that an insulated metal garage would be a great addition to your property, remember to call on Carport Kingdom! Thanks for stopping by our blog, and we hope to serve you soon.
