Helpful Tips For Cold Weather Driving

There is no denying it: winter is here again. With the brutally cold weather we have had lately, I thought it would be helpful to offer a few cold weather driving tips. It is important to keep in mind that your vehicle does not like the extreme cold any more than you do!

 

Those cold nights and chilly, dark mornings make it hard for all of us to wake up and get going, and your car is no exception. If your battery is old and/or has a weak charge, you may find yourself unable to get your car started after an especially cold night. Be sure to have your battery tested to make sure that it will start right up.

 

While getting your battery checked, be sure to verify that all of your fluids are clean and fully topped off. Having an adequate supply of clean motor oil, following recommended oil change intervals, and transmission fluid it crucial to the health of your vehicle, but don’t forget to check your wiper fluid as well. Driving down the road and being unable to clear the road salt off your windshield is not just an annoyance, it can be dangerous as it impedes visibility. Always remember to have tires with enough tread and ensure they are appropriate for the season (All Season or Winter). You can always get a few more miles out of your tires by having them rotated every 5,000 miles.

 

The traditional wisdom in New England is that you need to let an engine idle for several minutes before driving it. While that was true for carbureted engines, it is not true for modern engines that use fuel-injection. In fact, letting your engine idle for more than about 30 seconds can end up doing more harm than good. According to Stephen Ciatti, a mechanical engineer at the Argonne National Laboratory who specializes in internal combustion engines, letting your car idle in cold weather can actually damage your engine. You want to heat the engine up as quickly as possible, and the best way to do that is to drive. Ideally, you’d start your car, let it run for a bit while checking your seat belt and mirrors, and then take it easy for the first several minutes of your drive.

 

Finally, keep some spare warm clothes and blankets in your vehicle, just in case. There are plenty of hazards on the winter roads, and it is important to be prepared for the possibility of being stuck on the side of the road.