During the balmy months of Summer we get used to our cars starting and running, without really thinking too much about it, but with Jack Frost about to close his icy fingers about our car’s more delicate parts, now is the time to take some precautions.
Electricity and water are two items that are crucial to the performance of cars with internal combustion engines (ICE) during the cold months. If a battery in poor condition is going to let you down it is sure to be on a cold morning just when you don’t need any more problems. In freezing temperatures, untreated water in the cooling system will likely freeze when the mercury drops. This could potentially be catastrophic.
Battery Failure
The reason car battery problems are more common in winter is, rather obviously, just like us, trying to get going when it’s freezing. When it gets colder, it puts more strain on the battery to get the ignition going and the engine turning over. This is caused by deficient battery charge. if the battery is low on electric power or hasn't been charged for a while because the car hasn’t been used, then this is when you may encounter problems.
What To Do
Thankfully, there are ways to reduce the chances of a flat battery even when it's cold outside and it is helpful to know them. Consider for example, the age of the battery. If it is a few years old then it might be time to change it as charge leaks over time. Batteries are much more reliable than they used to be back in olden times (the 20th Century) but age still takes its toll.
Rather than making a number of short trips, try to link them into a longer journey. Too many short drives can drain your battery's charge. It makes sense to take the car out for a decent run (more than a half-hour) as regularly as possible, if and when that’s possible. Combining trips helps with this. Think about your staring procedure. For example, some drivers put their lights on before start-up; now that’s not a great idea. Before starting, turn off the air-con and any lights or accessories to reduce the amount of strain put on the car battery when turning on the ignition. If you get the dreaded sluggish turn-over sound, before giving up, try the ignition in five second bursts. Between each attempt, leave about 30 seconds. You may be able to get your car going in this way.
If All Else Fails
If these tips don’t help it is worth keeping jump leads with you. Hook these up to another car to charge your battery and get your vehicle running again. If it comes to this, then you should look to get your car battery changed as soon as possible. NOTE: If using jump leads, make absolutely sure you know what you are doing; electric shocks can be devastating.
Cooling The Engine
ICE cars have water circulating through them to help lower the operating temperature of the engine, backed up by airflow through the front grille. A crucial ingredient of this coolant (all year round, by the way) is antifreeze; an additive that prevents your engine coolant from freezing. It is especially important over winter time. If antifreeze is low or absent, your car's performance will be impacted: Worse case scenario is a seized engine. Antifreeze helps ensure the water used to cool your engine does not freeze and it also helps prevent it from boiling in summer months.
The water pump directs this coolant mix around your engine. A component called ‘ethylene glycol’ is the key to antifreeze; it inhibits the ability of water molecules to expand and crystallize in low temperatures, essentially lowering the freezing point. The good news is that antifreeze is not expensive and can usually be found on your local supermarket’s shelves or, in winter, by the door as you go in. These shops don’t miss a trick.
The Coolant Reservoir
Every petrol or diesel engine has a coolant reservoir tank under the bonnet. It should be obvious where it is but, if in doubt, see the car’s handbook. This is where you should add antifreeze for your car engine. If you’re unsure where to pour the antifreeze, ask your local car servicing garage to do it for you. The reservoir should be transparent enough to see how much coolant is inside and it will have marks on the side as a guide. If it’s at the maximum mark then you should be good to go but remember that if the coolant is low, there might be a leak somewhere. Then it’s definitely a job for the professionals.
The Best Way
Of course, you can avoid taking these precautions by ensuring that your car has been correctly maintained by your local car servicing garage who can give your vehicle a proper inspection to ensure that any potential issues can be spotted in advance. If servicing has taken place at another time of year, consider an interim service or a preventative cold weather inspection. That way you’re sure to have a trouble-free winter of driving.
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