What are The Effects of Cold Weather on Your Car Engine Oil?
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Cold weather can cause chaos or destruction in your car in general, but did you know it can also affect your engine oil? Due to winter, engine oil flows differently in cold temperatures, and that can result in engine trouble. If you feel there is a problem with the engine oil, you can check with a mechanic at your next car service Coventry.
With a little bit of knowledge and some minor changes, cold weather doesn’t have to get the best of your vehicle this season. In this blog post, we are going to discuss why you might have different oil pressure in cold weather. We also talk about how winter affects the engine oil and how you prevent potential engine oil problems with this guide.
How Does Cold Weather Affect Your Car Engine?
During winter, your car engine may take a longer time to reach the ideal operating temperature. When the weather is extremely cold, your engine oil may face difficulty flowing smoothly and may be delayed. In this condition, your engine might not work as efficiently when it is too cold outside.
Does Engine Oil Freeze in Cold Weather?
Yes. If the temperature is extremely cold, your engine oil can freeze. If you haven’t already, you need to consider switching to synthetic oil for your next engine oil change. Synthetic oils often retain their consistency levels and can effectively resist freezing even in extreme cold temperatures.
Does My Car Consume More Oil in Cold Weather?
Usually No, Low oil in cold weather depends on the condition and age of your engine and the type of car you drive. If you are constantly filling up your engine oil during the winter, the problem may be something else. Whatever the case, you will want to have your car checked by an experienced mechanic.
Can Cold Weather Create Low Oil Pressure?
To move your car, your engine relies on oil pressure to keep oil flowing at a normal rate. There are a number of things that can cause low oil pressure in the engine, such as a broken oil pump relief valve, lower oil levels due to oil leaks, and cold weather in some conditions.
Since engine oil consistency changes in cold temperatures, so can your engine’s oil pressure. In fact, colder temperatures can actually increase oil pressure, but the churning oil in the engine creates air bubbles. If the engine oil is thicker, it may hold onto those air bubbles for a longer period, making the oil pressure gauge read a lower value.
How To Avoid Engine Problems & Low Oil in Cold Weather?
Now that you understand how cold weather affects your engine oil, what can you do about it? Regularly changing oil at your car’s scheduled maintenance intervals is a must for your engine health during the winter. But we want to share a few more tips with you so that you can keep your car intact in cold weather:
Take Longer Trips
Your car engine oil feels the effects of winter mostly when you start your car. Until your engine reaches the ideal operating temperatures, engine emissions and contaminants like water and fuel may collect in the engine oil.
Rather than doing frequent short trips, you can take longer trips so that your engine will have more room to reach its preferred operating temperature. In simple words, make sure your engine is operated at ideal temperatures by taking longer drives and reducing the risk of removing these contaminants.
Check Your Car Battery
Pushing cold engine oil through your engine requires more power from your car battery during the winter months. Check your car battery regularly, especially in cold temperatures, to ensure it has enough power to start your car engine.
Avoid Extended Idling
Extended idling can let more fuel that is unburnt or partially burnt contaminate your car engine oil.
Switch To Synthetic Oil
The reason we recommend switching to synthetic engine oil is that the car is chemically engineered to have a more consistent viscosity and a lower freezing point than regular engine oil. Synthetic oil is best for most vehicles during the cold winter season. Whether you choose a conventional, synthetic blend, or full synthetic oil, make sure you are using engine oil that suits your car.
The “W” within the oil viscosity rating stands for “winter,” but beyond that, your car manufacturer will mention which viscosity grade is suitable for your particular car.
Use The Right Engine Oil For Your Car Mileage
As your car engine ages, it may benefit from the extra conditioning agents found in high-mileage oil to stay lubricated. If you are not sure if your car is ready for high-mileage oil, consult the technicians at your nearest garage.
Check Your Oil & Filter
When you start your car engine in cold temperatures, your oil pressure can change significantly. So, make sure to have your oil filters checked regularly and replace them at your next Engine Diagnostics Coventry.
Conclusion
Regardless of the type of engine oil, regular oil changes are a must for your car engine's health. If you are going for an MOT, you need to ensure your car starts instantly so that the tester can check its emissions.