Let us not be overcome by winter
New generation cars are adapted for operation in winter and low temperatures do not impress them. Difficulties with starting the power unit most often occur on older cars.
To avoid unpleasant surprises, it is worth starting with basic steps, such as lubricating door seals so that they can be opened without problems. The washer fluid must be of good quality, i.e. one that does not freeze at a temperature not lower than minus 20 degrees C. The water formed during the melting of snow freezes on the metal parts of the wipers and reduces their efficiency. Therefore, before we set off, it would be a good idea to clear them of ice.
Depress the clutch pedal before turning the ignition key. Many drivers forget this classic behavior. After starting the engine, wait about 30 seconds before moving off. It is a mistake to warm up the drive unit in the parking lot - it reaches the desired operating temperature more slowly than when driving.
A common cause of difficulty starting the engine is a defective battery. Its electrical capacitance decreases in proportion to the drop in temperature. If our car is 10 years old, we have not started it for several days, it has an anti-theft alarm, and last night it was -20 degrees Celsius, then problems can be reckoned with. Especially when it comes to diesel, it is much more sensitive to fuel quality (paraffin that precipitates in the cold can immobilize it), and in addition, it requires much more power at start-up (the compression ratio is 1,5-2 times higher, than petrol engines). ). Therefore, if you want to be sure that we can leave for work at dawn, it is worth taking the battery home for the night. The very fact that he will spend it at positive temperatures will increase our chances of starting the engine. And if we still have a charger and charge the battery with it, we can be almost sure of success.
Another cause of difficult starting could be water in the fuel. It accumulates in the form of water vapor on the inner walls of the fuel tank, so in the autumn-winter period it is worth adding fuel to the top. Gas stations have special chemicals that bind the water in the fuel tank. It is not recommended to pour denatured alcohol or other alcohol into the tank, as such a mixture destroys rubber compounds. In diesel vehicles, water collects in the fuel filter pan. It should be remembered that the sump should be cleaned regularly.
In the autumn-winter period, a slightly different autogas is also sold, in which the propane content is increased. At very low temperatures, the propane content of LPG can be as high as 70%.
According to the specialist
David Szczęsny, Head of Engine Department, ART-Cars Service Department
Before starting the engine in freezing weather, depress the clutch, place the shift lever in neutral, and turn the key so that the headlights come on, but not the engine. If the radio, fan or other receivers turn on, turn them off so that they do not take power from the starter. If nothing is turned on, we can turn on, for example, the parking lights for a few seconds to activate the battery.
In diesels, glow plugs will do this for us. In this case, instead of turning anything on, just wait until the orange light with the heater symbol goes out. Only then can we turn the key to the Start position. If it is difficult to start the engine, it is worth easing its work by holding the clutch pedal depressed for a few seconds.
