Cold mornings sometimes make it difficult to get going in the morning, but there are ways to hit the road quickly

As the weather changes and the winter months start to get closer, it’s that time of year again where we have to consider the possibility of frosty mornings which might slow our commute to work. There’s nothing worse than running late first thing and stepping outside to find your car covered in frost and unable to get going quickly.

Now obviously, you can’t change the weather. So what can you do to make sure you’re not left stranded in a frosty car on cold mornings? There are several precautions you can take. In this article, the team at Bull Barrier Safety Barriers are here to take you through them and make sure you can travel to work quickly and, above all else, safely.

Why won’t your car start?

If you leave the house on a frosty morning only to find that your car won’t start at all, there are several reasons why that might be. It could be an issue with the battery, which produces less of a current in cold weather. It could also be due to your engine oil, which tends to become thicker in the cold making it not flow though the engine parts as well. The issue might possibly lie with some form of fuel problem, as water in the fuel lines can freeze in cold weather, blocking the flow of fuel to your vehicle.

Of course, there are a number of other more serious reasons why a car may fail to start. But if the vehicle has been running smoothly the day before then it is an indication that a weather-related issue may be at fault.

Preventing cold weather problems

The best way to deal with car issues in frosty weather is to avoid them in the first place, and a lot of this has to do with where you park. Obviously, parking in a garage — preferably a heated one — will greatly reduce your risk of suffering a frost-related malfunction the next morning. If you don’t have a garage however, parking under or near something big can help as a car parked overnight next to a building or under a large tree is usually several degrees warmer the next morning than one parked out in the open.

You can also avoid oil issues by using the correct oil specified in your owner’s manual, and prevent fuel-related problems by using dry gas to stop fuel line freezing.

Getting your car started when it’s frosty

Preventing the issue is all well and good, but if you do find yourself unable to get moving due to the cold, you need to know what to do.

Start by turning off all electrical equipment in your vehicle. This includes headlights, the radio, your heater and defroster, so that all power can be focused on actually getting the engine going. Then turn the key and let it crank for a while, but not too long. Starter motors can overheat if they run for more than about ten second. If you’re still not successful, wait a minute or two and try again.

Warming the battery

Warming the battery is a good trick to try if you manage to get your engine running but it feels significantly slower than it normally does. Note that this does involve removing the battery and cleaning off any corrosion off the battery clamps. Unless you’re confident you can do this yourself, it might be a job to save for a mechanic.

Getting your car moving is just the first thing to consider in cold conditions, alongside remaining vigilant on the road and slowing down in case of slippery roads.