The expert named 5 things that should not be done with a car in the cold

Operation of the car in freezing weather requires special care to avoid unexpected breakdowns and serious damage to important units. An expert from the ampercar.com portal highlighted several common winter mistakes that can result in expensive repairs and an unscheduled visit to a car service.

One of the most frequent mistakes is the immediate start of the starter immediately after turning on the ignition. In conditions of low temperatures, it is important to wait 3-5 seconds until all unnecessary indicators on the instrument panel go out. This time is necessary so that the on-board computer has time to calibrate the fuel supply for a cold start, minimizing the load on the system.

Another common mistake, especially among owners of cars with a manual transmission, is ignoring the need to press the clutch when starting. Without this action, the starter has to work not only with the engine, but also with the transmission, which significantly increases the load in frosty conditions, causing the risk of damage to the units.

Holding the key in the START position for a long time or repeatedly trying to start the engine with the gas pressed is also unacceptable. This can lead to filling the candles with fuel and cause problems with starting the internal combustion engine. It is recommended not to keep the starter on for more than 10 seconds and not to try to start the car more than 3-4 times in a row. If the engine does not start, it is important not to waste time on fruitless attempts, but to immediately look for the cause of the malfunction.

When the engine does start, many drivers mistakenly believe that it is necessary to warm up the engine for 10-15 minutes. However, for modern cars, only 2-3 minutes of idling is enough. After that, you can start moving, but it is important to avoid increasing the revolutions above 2-2,5 thousand. rpm to give the engine a chance to run.

In addition, do not forget about the transmission, which warms up only while driving. The first few kilometers after starting to drive in the cold, you should not accelerate sharply so that the automatic transmission enters the operating mode.