Winter Driving in Cold Weather

In colder climates driving in the winter has its challenges. When we say we hate the cold, in fact so do our vehicles. So the battery will need more power to start the car and at frigid temperatures the battery is also less effective than at normal temperatures. Modern cars do not need to be warmed-up for a long time about 30 seconds and it is good to drive, of course it is also recommended that you do not do any sudden or hard acceleration for the first 3 miles (5 kilometers).

When driving there are things to pack and things not to do, cruise control should not be used on slippery roads, as it can cause the vehicle to hydroplane and lose control. Going slow on the gas because you want to avoid sudden accelerations also it is recommended that you check your wiper blades to make sure that they are in good condition and switch to snow tires for the best performance. Make sure you have a snowbrush with an ice scrapper, an extra jug of windshield water fluid and for the washer fluid you want to make sure it is good for at least -20 F (-30 C). Bring an extra shovel and clothing will also help in case you get stranded on the road. It is also recommended to keep your gas tank full to reduce moisture in the gas tank and also can help with keeping a slower speed due to the extra weight, and in some very cold places some cars have a block heater. A block heater is in the hood of the car and you plug it in and it will keep the engine warm. On a final note just because the road looks safe does not necessarily mean that it is, during the winter we should be very wary of possible black ice. Black ice is hazardous because we cannot really see it, it is a clear thin layer of ice that is slippery.

As we see that driving in the winter time has its challenges. Also remember on a very cold say if you just start your car it will still feel cold for a while until the engine gets warmed up and the heater warms up the temperature in the car.