How cold weather can affect your car

While it’s been cold recently in the Orlando area, it’s not likely that you’ll experience things like freezing fluids and car failure as a result of the cold. Bundling up is still essential, but your car will survive the night out in the cold and likely won’t need to be winterized to prevent winter auto service incidents. However, if you’re venturing into colder territory for a vacation, it pays to know just how much the cold weather can affect your ride. Before you go out in the cold, be sure to consult this guide from Toyota of Orlando to see which kind of winter auto service issues you could run into.

Thickening fluid

To keep your Orlando Toyota vehicle running efficiently, fluids are pumped throughout the engine compartment and to different components throughout your drive. But, the fluids in your vehicle can be susceptible to freezing if left unchecked. To avoid this winter auto service issue, make sure to have your fluids checked before venturing into an area of low temperatures. Having them replaced and/or filled to the appropriate levels and starting your vehicle ten to fifteen minutes prior to driving.

Tire pressure drops

Have you ever walked out, started your car, and your tire pressure warning light comes on? A common winter auto service issue that occurs when the temperature drops is a drop in your Orlando Toyota tire pressure. Be sure to inspect your tires for any punctures and reinflate them before driving on an extended commute.

Leaking

Because of the frequent temperature fluctuations in your Orlando Toyota engine compartment, a winter auto service issue that can arise is leaking. The majority of the undercarriage and other areas of your vehicle are made of metal and plastic and condensate easily because of the cold exterior temperatures combined with the hot temperatures of the engine. The changes in temperature can cause leaks to occur and ruin your ride before you dig your car out of the snow.

Drained battery

There’s nothing worse than trying to warm up your car during the winter and the engine can’t turn over. When the temperatures drop, this winter auto service issue can arise. This is caused by a reduced starting capacity in the Orlando Toyota car battery that makes it difficult for the engine to start. Our auto service experts highly recommend replacing your battery if it’s between four and five years old to avoid a failed start-up.

Corrosion

While this isn’t necessarily caused by the cold, road salt is often used to make roadways less slippery if it snows up north. For those Orlando residents that are unfamiliar with the affects of road salt, it can cause corrosion to the undercarriage and brakes. To avoid the severe winter auto service issues corrosion can cause, make sure to clean your vehicle after venturing into areas 

where salt is used on roadways.

Still have questions about how cold weather can affect your vehicle? Give Toyota of Orlando a call! Our winter auto service experts can help you prepare your ride for the cold at an affordable price. Give us a call at (407) 298 – 0001 today!