You have probably already noticed that your car may run differently during different types of weather conditions, but you may not know exactly why or how the weather can have such a profound impact upon how your vehicle operates. After all, you may be under the impression that they were built to withstand storms, harsh winds, and hot temperatures. But, in reality, all of these elements actually are not good for your car at all. While your car will survive these varying weather conditions, you may find that several specific problems arise during different seasons of the year as well.
How exactly does the weather outside affect your car anyway? If you want answers to these questions, read on to learn how weather conditions directly affect how your car runs, and what you can do to prevent or fix these problems.
How Summertime Heat and Sun Affects Your Car
While your car is baking in the hot sun, the exterior can certainly suffer, especially if you have not properly washed the car in a while or you have not applied a layer of good, protective wax to seal in the paint and prevent it from drying out and cracking in the sun. During the summer, you may need to purchase a wax that will be able to withstand the heat, as some do not provide the same level of protection once the temperature rises too high. Protect your tyres as well by putting on an oil-based sealant that will not melt in the high temperatures of the summer.
But another thing you need to keep an eye on is your car’s coolant system. Prevent problems before they occur by regularly checking up on the state of your coolant system. Also, bring around extra coolant in the event that you need to add more to the car if you find that it needs it, especially if you are going away for a long road trip during the summer.
When it comes to your tyres, they may overinflate as a result of the hot weather. Therefore, the best thing to do is inflate your tyres according to the level that is recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer, rather than that of the tyre manufacturer.
How the Winter’s Ice, Snow, and Freezing Temperatures Affect Your Car
Cold weather that begins to settle in during the autumn will have the opposite effect upon your tyres, causing them to deflate and lose pressure instead. To make sure you get the most accurate reading on your tyre pressure, check it while the car is still cold, such as in the morning before leaving for work, because as you drive, the friction from the road will end up generating heat in your tyres that causes them to gain back some of that pressure that had been lost.
Cold weather may also cause your car battery to become drained, making you unable to get your car started in the morning. This is particularly true of cars that do not come equipped with batteries built for freezing temperatures.
Brian Leddy is a expert in all things automobile related. He often visits
regplates.com to check out the latest advances in car registration plate personalisation.