Keeping up with the cold: Tips for vehicular reliability in subzero temperatures

Despite weather falling into single and even double digit negatives for the next few days, you’ll likely still have places to go -- work, school, and other obligations of your daily life -- and will need use of your car. Here are some winter weather tips to help you feel more assured you won’t be hoofing it to your next piano recital.

 

T H E   E N G I N E

If your car has been sitting out a while and you think the battery may be weakened or dying, shut the car doors and turn off all accessories before starting the car. This includes the radio, any lights and the heater. With all peripherals off, you can strengthen your starting power.

If your engine fails to catch when you crank the ignition, try holding it at start for up to ten seconds. Any longer will overwork the car and cause it to overheat. If nothing catches, let go and allow the battery to recover for a minute or two before attempting it again.

In the worst case scenario, you may have to uninstall the battery and bring it inside to warm up for a while. Consult your car’s manual for how to unhook and reattach it.

Very cold temperatures prevent oil from reaching vital parts of the engine to lubricate it. In cases like these, use a thinner and more lightweight oil brand for easier flow and even increased fuel economy. You can read about ideal oils for your car in your car’s manual.

Crack open the hood and take a look at the serpentine belt, the visible one at the front of the engine. Look at the grooved side. If these grooves are cracked or worn down they are more likely to snap the belt and make a paper weight of your whole engine. Consider replacing this belt before that happens.

 

T H E   O U T S I D E

If it’s been over six months since you’ve replaced your wiper blades, it’s best to do it soon. Wipers can crack with age and reduce overall visibility when on the roads. Even if you’re not sure when you last replaced your wipers, you can easily tell how well they’re working by just testing them out. If it’s still difficult for you to see clearly after a couple swipes, find replacements.

Sudden temperature shifts can affect tire pressure, with the air inside a tire expanded under heat and contracted under cold. Check your tires’ PSI with a handheld air pressure gauge or an air pump at the nearby gas station. Tires normally function best between 27 and 32 PSI pressures.

Sweep as much snow off your car to make it as lightweight as possible. Great mounds of snow stuck to your car isn’t doing it any favors, and can affect visibility when it all starts flying off in the wind while you drive.

Keep gasoline in your fuel tank. This seems obvious, but as temperatures continue to drop it’ll take more gasoline to keep from freezing. Half a tank is recommended for these temperatures, and with gas prices as low as they are there should be no excuses. A car with frozen gas is hardly a car at all.

If you find your doors frozen shut, try putting your weight on the door and pushing it inward. This pressure may break the ice covering the seal. Using warm water also helps thin the ice and allow you to chip it away easier. You can also use commercial ice thinners the night before a great chill to keep ice at bay.

Lift your wipers on their upward pivots off your windshield. They may be a bit frosty when you come back to your car in the morning, but that’s better than attempting to rip them from the windshield and risk tearing the rubbers that comprise the blades.

If you want to prevent ice buildup on your windshield, grab a protective windshield cover and strap it on, anchoring it to your mirrors. In the morning you can pull it off (though it might be frozen, so that may take some time) and your windshield will be clear.