Winter is officially underway, and one of the things on most people's minds is how their car is going to perform when the temperature plummets and the snow begins to fall. The whole "car won't start in the cold" thing can be a big problem for people who live up north, and especially for people who live in really cold places like Alaska, where the temperature drops below freezing on a daily basis. There are, however, a few possible reasons why your car won't start in cold weather and here's what you can do about it.
Condensation in the Fuel System Accumulates
Moisture can build up in your fuel system over time, but you might not notice it until cold weather hits. To prevent frozen water droplets in your fuel lines, keep your fuel tank as full as possible, so there's less room in the gas tank for condensation to build.
Gasoline Evaporates Less
When it gets really cold, gasoline evaporates slowly, so it's harder to burn it. You can spray a product called starting fluid directly into the air intake, which helps ignite the fuel in cold temperatures and enables your car to start faster.
Oil Thickens
You probably know that cold pancake syrup from the refrigerator is a lot thicker than warm syrup. Engine oil is the same way. When you try to start a cold engine, the car's engine has to push around the cold, gooey oil, and that makes it harder for the engine to spin. That’s why it’s ideal to use synthetic motor oil, because it stays liquid in cold temperatures.
Batteries Struggle
A battery is essentially a can full of chemicals that produce electrons. When the battery is cold, it produces fewer electrons. As a result, the car's starter motor has less energy to work with when it tries to start the engine, causing the engine to crank slowly. That can trick you into thinking you have a dead battery. Keep your car in a heated garage, or use something like a “battery blanket” or “block heater.” A block heater is a little electric heater that you plug in to keep the engine warm.
