Does Winter Affect the Life of Your Vehicle?

With all of the extra effort that has to be dedicated to making sure your car is ready to drive in treacherous conditions, taking care of your car during the winter can be difficult. But although winter car maintenance may seem like a tough task, it is necessary if you hope to extend the life of your vehicle and limit visits to your mechanic in Minneapolis, MN for expensive repairs. Here are some things to watch out for.

Thickened fluids

During the winter months, cold temperatures thicken the fluids in your car, making it much harder for them to flow freely. In order to continue operating, these thickened fluids are sometimes forced through to the necessary components, and if they become too thick they might not reach the internal mechanisms at all. This will put these parts through excessive wear, and could actually cause them to break down. To avoid the damage that can occur from a lack of lubrication, change your fluids before the winter starts, and make sure that they have returned to normal flow when the temperatures start to warm up again.

Dead batteries

The freezing temperatures of winter can reduce your battery’s starting capacity, forcing it to work that much harder to get your vehicle up and running. This can cause long-term damage to your battery even after the weather improves, particularly for batteries that were already towards the end of their service life before the winter even started. To avoid being stranded during the winter, have a mechanic check your battery’s capacity with regularity, and replace it if need be.

Tire pressure

It is necessary to monitor your tire pressure year-round, but it is particularly important during the winter, when the pressure fluctuates with the cold temperatures. There is a drastic difference between your tire pressure when your car is in motion and when it is parked on the street, covered in snow and ice. Tire pressure that is either too high or to low can lead to a dangerous situation, such as a blowout on the road while you are driving. If you see your tire pressure light come on at any point, take your car in to have it addressed right away.

Beware of salt buildup

The salt that is used to keep the roads clear during the winter can have lasting effects on your vehicle. This salt actually has the potential to cause major damage to your car by corroding its metal parts over time, such as the undercarriage, brakes and wheel wells. To avoid this type of lasting damage, wash your car as often as possible during the winter, particularly underneath the car body.

With a little bit of preventative maintenance and extra care, the winter weather doesn’t have to affect the life of your car, and our team at Quality Coaches, Inc. is here to help. Since 1972, we have provided the maintenance and repairs that vehicles need to keep running through the winter and into the summer. As your trusted mechanic in Minneapolis, MN, we will take the time with your car to make sure no ill effects of a long hard winter remain. Give us a call today to schedule your appointment for complete auto service.

Categorised in: Mechanic

This post was written by Sharon Morgan