Winter car maintenance checklist for those driving on snowy roads
Do you live and drive in an area with snow? Here are some winter maintenance tips.
With cold weather bringing ice and snow across the United States, your first instinct may be to warm up your car before driving anywhere.
But according to AAA experts, that may not be a good idea. The engine only needs as much time as it takes to fasten your seatbelt and make sure the lubricant gets to the critical parts of the engine.
“When it’s cold and there’s no snow or ice, start your car, get in, put your seatbelt on, adjust your mirrors, and then start driving your car normally. This is the best way to heat up the engine, and it also warms up the internal heat,” David Bennett, AAA’s senior manager of automotive, told USA TODAY. “If you start it and leave it for five minutes to warm up, you’re just wasting gas.”
If your car has ice or snow buildup, Bennett recommends scraping it off and turning on the defroster.
Bennett said that since cars were equipped with carbureted engines, a misconception has been passed down for generations that engines need to be warmed up, when in fact the process was necessary. He said modern cars are “well designed and very efficient, so they warm up quickly when you start driving on the road” and avoid slamming down on the gas pedal to speed up the heating process.
Here’s what else you need to know about driving in cold weather.
Why doesn’t my car start when it’s cold?
According to JD Power, your car may not start in the cold because the battery is not fully charged. The consumer intelligence company said vehicle owners may notice this if their starter is running slowly.
According to JD Power, the following methods will help you start your vehicle’s battery even in freezing conditions.
◾ Warm up the battery by flashing the high beams for 20 to 30 seconds.
◾ Turn on the ignition. If your car is equipped with injectors, wait a few seconds for the fuel pump to start.
◾ If the carburetor is not equipped with an auto choke, pull the lever.
◾ If your car has a manual transmission, depress the clutch pedal before starting the engine.
◾ To avoid overheating, start the car within 10 to 15 seconds. If your car won’t start, try again in 1 minute.
◾ If the starter works fine but the car still won’t start after three attempts, try pressing the gas pedal and repeating the process.
◾ If the starter does not turn on, either the battery is dead or the starter itself is defective.
Check your antifreeze, batteries, and other parts before a winter storm
In cold weather, your vehicle may require twice the normal current to start the engine. According to the AAA Automotive Research Center, at 32 degrees, your car battery loses about 35% of its strength.
It’s best to check your antifreeze and battery frequently to prevent your engine from freezing in the winter and protect it from rust and corrosion. Mr Bennett also urged motorists to check their tire pressures to ensure they are properly inflated and to carry a spare tire.
In addition, Bennett said to check running lights, headlights, turn signals, brake lights and reversing lights to make sure you can see and be seen on the road, as well as wiper blades to protect your visibility. He recommends checking oil transmission fluid and coolant levels when engine temperatures are cool.
How often should I start my car to keep the battery charged?
According to AAA, you should start your car and drive it for at least 30 minutes at least once a week. This preserves battery life, properly lubricates the seals, and prevents old start-up combustion contaminants from building up in the engine oil.
If you start the engine without driving the car, the engine will not be able to charge the battery. AAA recommends that if you can’t drive for a while, ask a friend or family member to drive you for 30 minutes a week.
More winter car safety tips
◾ Clean corrosion on battery posts and cable connections makes it more reliable in cold conditions, so make sure your battery and charging system are in good condition.
◾ Do not use your vehicle to charge your device. Instead, invest in some portable chargers.
◾ Clean your car’s headlights, replace old wiper blades, and inspect tire tread depth and pressure to ensure proper visibility and traction.
◾ Avoid using cruise control or making unnecessary lane changes in icy conditions as this may increase the chance of hitting ice while changing lanes.
Contributors: Coral Murphy Marcos, Dalvin Brown, Ben Tobin
