Even when there isn’t heavy snowfall, cold winter weather can cause vehicle problems that leave you calling for roadside assistance. Fortunately, you can prevent many of the most common issues with regular maintenance. Learn more below to help you avoid complications down the road.

How to Prevent Car Trouble in the Winter

1. Battery

A dead battery is a common reason people need to call for roadside assistance in the winter. Cold weather can cause the battery to lose voltage, meaning it won’t have enough juice to start the car. Jump starting the vehicle and letting the battery recharge can get you back on the road, but if your battery is old, you’ll likely need another boost soon. To prevent this, have the battery checked whenever you get your oil changed, and expect to replace it every four to five years.

2. Tires

When the temperatures plummet, so can the air pressure in your tires. In general, tire pressure decreases by one psi for every 10 degrees below freezing. This can trigger the tire pressure warning light on your dash. In many cases, the light will go out after you’ve driven for a few minutes, as the pressure will increase again when the tires warm up. However, you should still check the tire pressure monthly, even if the indicator doesn’t come on. Driving on over- or under-inflated tires can affect vehicle handling and cause you to lose control on icy or wet roads.

3. Fluids

When temperatures go down, oil, brake fluids, transmission fluids, and antifreeze can all thicken, causing them to be less efficient. The cold can also affect how your fuel injection system works, changing the engine's gas-to-air ratio. Until the engine warms up, more gas is necessary to create the combustion required to power it. In addition to affecting efficiency, this extra gas also reduces the amount of oil on the engine's cylinder walls.

Although conventional wisdom has been to warm up the car by idling for five to 10 minutes when it's cold outside, that’s no longer necessary. Instead, let the engine run for 60 to 120 seconds, and then drive. Driving will warm the engine up more quickly, thinning the fluids and correcting the gas-to-air ratio.

If cold weather has affected your car, call Patriot Towing in Franklin County, MO, for roadside assistance. Their experienced tow drivers help motorists 24 hours a day and will get you and your vehicle to safety quickly. This family-owned and -operated company prides itself on being a reliable and trustworthy member of the community, and their team is ready to help when you need them most. Request help by calling (636) 392-5070, or visit their website to learn more about their services.