How to Tune Up Your Car for this Brutal Winter Weather

Posted by on January 16, 2018 @13:14:35 EST

Cold, snowy weather has a tendency to impact car performance.

It’s been so cold this winter, that leaving the house probably makes you cry (or curse).

This so-called “bomb cyclone”, “polar vortex” or if you want to give it a human name, “Grayson”, has turned fingers blue and mustaches to icicles. And it’s probably given you and everyone you know some annoying car troubles.

Batteries die. Tires deflate. Wipers freeze.  

And then there’s snow and slush and salt that damage the exterior of your car, which is unsightly and expensive to fix.

But you can’t stop the weather nor its effects. So how do you keep your car running and damage-free and most importantly, how do you drive without freezing your butt to death? (hint: consider a car tune up)

Cold & Cars

Dead batteries (and needing a boost) is a common consequence of frigid temperatures.

The colder it gets, the more your car deals with “trauma”. Just like how a cold breeze can freeze you to the bone, frigid winter air can pierce deep into your car’s most vital parts. In fact, the bitter cold affects both the interior and the exterior of your car.

Cold weather effects on your car

  • Frozen engines – Oh, the irony. Antifreeze, as it turns out…can freeze. Of course, it has get to really really cold (kinda like how it’s been). But once it does, the antifreeze becomes unavailable and the engine too, freezes.
  • Frozen alternators – Although it’s unlikely to happen, your alternator can freeze. The result? A screaming noise from the fanbelt, smoke, a burning odour and a check engine light. You’ll also have some issues starting up.
  • Frozen ignition locks – The air in your car can drop so low, that you can’t even switch your ignition on (may be a tough sell but it’s a good excuse for getting to work late).
  • Frozen rear drum brakes – Usually not the result of cold itself, freezing of rear drum brakes happens when water gets inside of them and freezes due to the extreme cold. Case in point: when cleaning brake drums, don’t spray water in them.
  • Frozen water pump – You switch the engine on and…squeal! That noise could mean a frozen water pump.
  • Dying batteries – We all know at least one person this winter who needed a boost. A classic case of winter freezing, a dead battery often occurs due to cold temperatures draining their charge (something to think about if you’re going for a hybrid or fully electric car, but they are getting better!).
  • Thick oil – Steep temperature drops cause oil to get thick, making it harder for it to reach tight spots in the engine, leading to reduced engine performance.
  • Deflated tires – Another classic sign of it being too cold outside, are deflating tires. It costs you money because leaky tires reduce gas mileage, and it’s a major pain because you’ll have to inflate them when it’s bone-chillingly cold out.

A lot more can happen when it’s frigid outside. But the effects listed above are some of the more common ones, some of which have probably happened to you or someone else over the last few weeks. And for that reason, a car tune up is not-so-secret weapon for battling those cold weather affects.

Winter Car Tune Ups

A winter car tune up is a necessity for all drivers.

So here’s the deal: it’s mid-January and some of you reading this haven’t fully tuned up your car yet. Well, get on with it. It’s safe to say that we can expect at least another two months or so of winter weather, some of which can be brutally cold.

So take note of the following car tune up checklist to get you started.

  • Winter tires  
  • Fluid top-ups
  • Engine check-ups
  • Heater units
  • Battery check
  • Wiper blade check
  • Brake check-up

Here’s a brief breakdown of why each one of those is a priority.

Winter tires shouldn’t be an afterthought or even an option. Ask anyone with all-season (or worse, summer) tires who got into an accident and they’ll tell you they wish they had winters on. The traction they provide for slippery roads is superior to any other tire – bar none.

Don’t forget the easy-to-forget task of topping up engine fluids. Antifreeze/coolant, washer fluid, oil – make sure they’re all topped up, something you probably do already, but should be reminded of anyway. Also, make sure that you’re getting the right blend of these fluids since low temperatures can reduce their efficiency.

It’s easy to ignore the early signs of engine damage, and winter temperatures can make engine troubles worse. So get your engine checked out if you’re hearing any strange noises or if unusual dashboard symbols light up. Trust us, you don’t want to breakdown in the middle of winter.

Ever sat in a car frozen stiff even though the heater was on? That was probably due to a heater not working. To prevent the disappointment and discomfort of a frigid drive, have your heating unit checked to see that it’s working properly. Nothing’s worse than jumping out of the cold, only to sit back in it.

If your battery died on you this winter, you’ll appreciate the advice to check it before the cold kills it. Extreme cold will weaken any battery, but older ones and used ones are likely to die the fastest. If either of those describes your battery, be sure to have it checked.

Your windshield wipers turn into a lifeline during those blinding blizzards. So don’t mess around with them. Replace your wiper blades if their movement is stiff, or have trouble clearing light precipitation (ie. rain or wet snow).

Finally, look into getting a brake checkup. Aside from winter tires, your brakes need to be in the best condition possible to stop you as fast as possible. No exceptions. Help keep pedestrians, other drivers and yourself safer by checking in on the state of your brakes.

Of course, you could go on and on with a checklist for winter car prep, but the ones mentioned above are some of the more immediate concerns. With that said, you can always ask a mechanic if there’s anything your car needs in particular.

Put an Emergency Kit together

An emergency car kit can keep you safe if brutal weather gets you stranded.

This one is less about your car and more about you. We’ve talked about this before, and we’re going to stress it again – make an emergency kit.

No seriously – your A+ winter tires and 400-HP engine won’t free you if you’re stuck in a snowbank. You know what will? A shovel. But how many people pack their car with a shovel – an emergency kit necessity?

Or what if you’re trying to rush home from the store, your car won’t start and, to make it worse, you have no jumper cables? That spells “s-t-u-c-k”.

Now here’s a big one – what if you’re stranded on a roadside in a blizzard, it’s -20 and CAA says “we’ve got a higher than normal wait time” (which means you’ll have to wait for several hours). And you’ve got no snacks, no water or no blankets on hand.

That scenario is not just an inconvenience, it’s dangerous. Buck the trend ill-preparedness by putting an emergency kit together. Cars have limits, and winter weather (especially this year’s winter weather) will push your car to those limits (maybe even past it).

If you’re not sure what to include in your emergency kit, take a look at this list:

  • Jumper cables
  • Tire chains
  • Flashlight
  • Warning devices
  • Tool kit
  • Shovel
  • Ice scraper
  • Phone charger
  • Map (an actual one made with paper)
  • First aid kit
  • Warm clothing and blankets
  • Baby diapers
  • Water and non-perishable foods

The purpose of these items aren’t to ramp up your car’s performance, but to assist you when you car’s performance is not enough to get you out of a messy situation (or a ditch).

Don’t Give a Tune-Up the Cold Shoulder

At present, all we can do is cross our fingers and hope that this cold snap ends ASAP (it’s just mid-January *gulp*). Until nature flips on the heat switch to warm us up, we’ll have to bundle up and for the sake of our cars, we’ll have to keep a close eye on their performance.

Make sure to tune-up your vehicle and stock up on emergency kit items if you haven’t already. You’ll thank yourself for doing so on extra cold days. Or if you get stranded somewhere.

And to echo the weather report, as a final word of caution, stay off the roads during dangerous conditions unless you have to be on the road. Many accidents and breakdowns happen when people venture out into bad weather.

Eventually, and we hope that’s real soon, all of this mess (and stress) will clear up. Let’s just hope that when it’s all said and done, we don’t have to ask, “why is it so damn hot?” in the summer.

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