Getting your car to start in the extreme cold can be a problem if you haven’t taken the proper precautions. Nick Hoss, the service manager with Total Sales and Service used cars in Le Mars, says one of the most important things is making sure your battery is up to the job of cranking out the power needed.
“Any battery that gets between a four and six year lifespan — someone can pretty much guaranteed it’s going to be time to be replaced,” Hoss says. He says you should also make sure the antifreeze strength is good. Once the car is started, Hoss says give it five or 10 minutes to run. “So everything, all the fluids get warmed up before you take off. That’s hard on them to just get in them and start them up and expect them to go when it’s that cold,” Hoss explains.
He says engine block heaters are another way to make sure the car starts if it has to be outside. Hoss says a lot of vehicle have them and it’s worth it to have one and know your engine is going to crank right over. Hoss says you can get a heater for your car, but need to check to be sure you get the right one. “Every one of them is a little bit different, they have to go in a soft plug hole and not every vehicle is user friendly to get them installed. It kind of depends on the make and the model,” Hoss says.
The auto mechanic suggests using a fuel additive, and keeping your tank full of gasoline, not just for your car’s sake, but to give you added security, should you find yourself stranded.
(Reporting by Dennis Morrice, KLEM Le Mars)