The cold weather is harsh on your vehicle and, unfortunately, sticking on a hat, scarf and coat isn’t an option for it so it pays to be extra careful as the temperature drops because climate related trouble can strike quicker than you’d expect. There are plenty of ways that the cold weather can affect your vehicle so keep a sharp look out for any of the following and don’t get left out in the cold.

Dead Batteries

Have you ever struggled to get your engine started in the winter? It’s Murphy’s Law, right? It’s freezing cold and you just want to get that engine started and be off on your way. Oh, and the heater would be nice too. Well it’s more common a problem than you might think. Cold temperatures can interfere with the chemical processes in the battery and prevent it from holding charge. This coupled with excess usage of battery-operated, winter-essential amenities such as the heater, demister, wiper blades and headlamps can result in you being unable to get your vehicle started first thing.

Leaving your car sat in the cold can be unavoidable. If you have access to a garage which, if so, you are recommended to keep your car in it during the cold winter months, but if not you are recommended to take a few precautions to prevent battery failure in these cold temperatures. The most important thing is to make sure that everything is turned off when you leave your vehicle. Yes, we know, common sense right? Well it doesn’t hurt to check before you leave. Things like boot lights or chargers left in sockets without anything attached to them can be quietly draining your battery and you’d never be the wiser. If your car won’t start, give it few minutes by turning everything off and then try starting the vehicle without anything else being switched on.

It’s really important to get your battery checked heading towards the cold weather months, particularly if it is more than three years old so now would be a good time to give it a health check before it’s too late. There are also engine starting aids available such as Granville Quick Start which helps by making a more combustible mixture and enhances cold weather protection.

Thick Fluid

The oil and other fluids you put in your car to make it run also behave differently in cold temperatures. In the case of engine oil and transmission fluid the colder the temperature is, the thicker its consistency. In colder weather it can take a while for these fluids to heat up to optimal operating temperature so take the time to warm up your engine before setting off on your journey. 10 minutes should be about right if the temperature is below freezing. As always, make sure that the fluids are topped up and functioning well. The fresher the fluid, the better it will operate so it’s worth checking them soon.

Tyre Pressure

As the temperature drops so too does your tyre pressure which can be a particular problem in the colder months as you are sure to have to contend with wet road conditions more frequently. Cold weather also affects the condition of the rubber, hardening the shell of the tyre which means it is harder for them to grip the road surface. As always, make sure that your tyres are well looked after by checking the tyre pressure frequently and insuring that the tread depth is greater than the minimum legal limit of 1.6mm. It is recommended that you change your tyres when the tread depth gets to 3mm as it takes an extra 2 car lengths at 50mp to stop in wet weather.

Wiper Blades

Wiper blades are made from rubber and so they suffer a similar fate to tyres in cold weather in that they become hard and brittle and, consequently, more prone to cracking and damage. Blades that get frozen to the windscreen can also cause a problem because there is a chance that the wiper transmission could be damaged if the wipers become stuck to the screen and you try to switch them on. If you know that heavy frost or snow is predicted then you can prepare by raising the blades away from the windscreen, and don’t try to use them on frozen snow as that will cause the rubber to degrade.

Screenwash Fluid

Be sure to trade up for a high quality screenwash fluid which is designed to withstand freezing temperatures such as Granville’s Subzero Screenwash which will protect down to -30°C. The last thing you want is screenwash freezing in its reservoir. 

Doors Frozen Shut

Can’t get your doors open because of the frost? Use Silicone Spray to rub into the rubber seal around the door frames to help keep them free. If you can’t get your key in the lock then spray the lock and the key with some Granville De-icer.

Foamy Oil

It is recommended that you leave your engine idling to warm it up before setting off during the colder months but if you leave it standing too long then it can cause a build-up of condensation in the engine which, in excessive amounts then leads to water contamination in your oil. One of the consequences of this is that your engine oil becomes milky or foamy and, in the worst cases if other contaminants are present, sludge can form. Condensation build up is almost inevitable in cold weather and is mostly harmless in small quantities but it’s prudent to do what you can in order to limit build up.

For more information about fuel contamination take a look at this article.

Higher Fuel Consumption

Unfortunately for your wallet, cold weather entails a spike in fuel consumption.

There are a few things you can do to make sure your engine is running as efficiently as possible in order to deal with this. Try an engine treatment such as Slick 50 which is formulated to assist the engine by coating it to provide an extra layer of protection to the engine parts. A fuel treatment from the 10k range could also give your fuel efficiency a Boost.

Remember to keep your speed as steady as possible – no sudden acceleration and braking as this will also raise fuel consumption – and on snow and ice a steady speed is much safe too.

Cracked Windshields

Windshields are another part of your vehicle which can fall victim to the cold. A sudden change in temperature and cause cracks to appear in your windscreen. This is why you should never pour hot water onto your windscreen in order to thaw frost. Unfortunately, if it is particularly cold, you might find that a sudden burst of heat from your heating system is enough to cause those cracks to appear. You should get your windshield repairs as soon as possible.

Give Rain-X's Windshield Repair Kit a go, it's easy to use and takes only minutes to patch up small cracks and to stop them from spreading. If you notice a crack in your windshield, deal with it as soon as possible. You don't want the crack to spread or to become contaminated with dirt.

Road Salt

Road salts are put down to make our lives easier when we have to drive in wintry conditions but did you know that it has corrosive properties too? As you drive along, all that salt gets flung up into your vehicle's undercarriage, clinging to the metal components and causing premature wear.

Not to mention the damage it can do your external paint job. It is recommended that you wash your car regularly in the colder months to limit the build up of these salts as much as possible. You can also prepare for this by using a coating of Granville Underbody Schutz which coats components giving maximum protection against salt, damp & rust.

A coat of wax will also help to provide some protection for your paintwork against the elements. Give the Turtle Wax range a go.

Article first published Friday 30th Oct 2015 12:00:00