4 Ways Cold Weather Can Impact Your Car

Your car can be subjected to damage in a number of different ways, but you may not be aware that something as simple as cold weather can cause damage to your car. Cold winter weather is not only miserable to deal with for you, but it can cause harm to your car as well. There are a few ways you should be aware of that the cold weather can damage your car. 

Auto Body Damage

Your car's auto body can become damaged in the cold weather for a number of different reasons. In areas that receive snowfall, you can be sure that the roads will be salted to help melt the ice. When the salt and moisture coats your car, it can eat away at your car's paint. Ensure that you wash your car weekly to prevent this from happening. The salt can also attach underneath the car, which can also cause rust. Ensure that you don't skip cleaning underneath your car to rid it of salt completely! 

The cold weather can also make small dents in your car worse. The paint can start to chip off in cold weather, and rust will start to develop. Ensure that you get small dents and dings repaired before the cold sets in. 

Thickened Fluids 

When the temperature outside drops, the fluids that your car needs to properly run thickens up, making it harder for these fluids to travel throughout the mechanisms of the car. Fluid should be able to flow quickly, and it's harder for it to do that if your fluid levels are low and thick. Lack of proper fluid flow can damage your transmission or your engine. Ensure that your fluids are topped off before the cold weather sets in. 

Tire Fluctuation

When the weather gets cold, your tire pressure can fluctuate. Usually this means the tire pressure will be lower when your car isn't moving, and then increase when your car starts to move again. This means that you may think your tires are properly filled when you are driving, when they really aren't. Be sure to inspect the air in your tires after they have been at rest for a while. If you notice that they look deflated, even if they don't look or feel deflated when you are driving, have them filled properly. 

In order to prevent your car from being damaged from the cold weather, you first need to know how it can be damaged. Keep these things in mind in order to prevent cold water damage from your car. If you have any problems, visit an auto body shop like Windy's Collision Center.