We figure out how to properly warm up your car in frosty weather.
Not so long ago, we all enjoyed the warm weather, spent time on vacation at resorts, cottages and beaches. The summer time flew by quickly and the gloomy autumn has already managed to replace it.
However, she did not have long to "manage", since the harsh winter is already "knocking at the door." Every experienced motorist knows that in the frosty season you need to treat your “iron horse” in a special way.
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In particular, this applies to the first morning launch of the car. It's no secret that at low air temperatures it is not recommended to immediately set your car in motion. First, “our horse” needs to be warmed up, recommends site, in order to avoid malfunctions of various nodes or even “stall” along the way.
Does the car rattle on startup? Maybe it's the catalyst
Some cars rattle on startup. The noise is often compared to pebbles in a tin drum. Sometimes these sheets appear and wobble on startup. This may cause a rumbling noise. Basically 5 minutes and the appropriate key help and the problem is solved.
Not every car sound can be safely identified
Sound can also come from. Unfortunately, it is impossible to say for sure if this is a serious problem. regular car consists of more than 1000 parts, and each of them can create different sounds. If you're not sure if the noise in your car is a symptom of a defect, driving to a shop or asking a professional is by far the safest option.
How to warm up your car in winter
New generation machines include automatic systems warming up, which do not require other interventions than pressing a couple of buttons or turning the key in the ignition. But older cars lack such privileges and require little intervention.Battery recovery, engine warm-up
- First of all, the driver needs to take care of the battery, which stood idle at night and lost its properties. The simplest and effective way warming up your battery is turning on high beam headlights Thirty seconds is enough for the battery to “wake up” and recover.
(banner_336) - We start the engine. Sometimes, it’s impossible to start the “heart” of a car in the cold the first time. This may indicate a malfunction, but if you need to advance urgently, it is recommended to repeat the first paragraph and try to start the car again.
Cleaning glass and mirrors, warming up the cabin, leaving
- Has the engine started? Fine! We leave it in work for warming up, and we ourselves clean the windows and mirrors from snow.
- After warming up the engine, it is necessary to turn on the stove, which will heat the fat of the car.
- After heating the interior, turn on the heating front glass, which will melt the ice crust on it and provide a full view.
- Having done all the previous points, you can start moving. At the same time, it must be remembered that the first kilometers should be driven at minimum speed. It is not recommended to exceed the speedometer needle by more than 40 kilometers per hour.
By putting these simple tips into practice, it will become much easier and faster for you to go to work on a cold winter morning.
Particular attention should be paid to the brakes and headlights. It must also be checked in word whether the brake is working properly. Moving parts often suffer the most from the effects of road salt. Quick does noticeably on the chain, which often fastens considerably during the day with rust.
More tips for cycling in winter there. Biking on ice and snow. If it gets too hot, you can easily put on a layer without freezing. Usually one pays attention to his rain-repellant cycling clothes, because with this you will get good wind and weather. If it is too expensive, it can also work on the internal fund.
The operation of the car in the cold season has a number of features, the knowledge of which will ensure complete trouble-free use vehicle. In frost technical fluids and various moving parts of the car engine may not work properly, which in turn leads to increased wear. That is why before you start moving. it is required to preheat the car, which will solve problems with a low engine temperature.
Predictive driving is a prerequisite for safe winter driving. Snow and ice reduce tire traction and expand stopping distances. This way they prevent tire loss. It also helps to get air out of the tires. “This increases the contact surface to the ground and provides more traction on asphalt,” says Oppel. Studded tires help on icy paths or frozen ruts in the snow. Thanks to their small metal pins in the splints, they provide the support you need.
If you're only moving for short distances, you can also lower it a bit to reach the ground faster with your feet. By the way: if the bike path is not scattered or cleared, the use fee is waived. That cyclists without lights are hard to see in the dark is not new. However, in winter they are even more vulnerable. Kolya Oppel: Motorists have to deal with bad road conditions, foggy windows, bright reflections on wet roads and snow. Danger of missing out on other users traffic even more than it already is.
To warm up or not - that is the question
There is a consensus among car owners whether it is required to preheat the car in winter time no year to date. If previously old carbureted cars required such preheating without fail, today, thanks to the use of high-quality modern synthetic lubricants and fully automated injection engines There is no need to preheat the car.
Therefore, for cyclists to wear bright, reflective clothing and turn on the lights. Studded tires allow you to ride even on ice and snow. More and more cyclists remain in the saddle even in real winter weather; good functional clothing helps against the cold, and studded tires allow you to ride on snow and ice. Bicycle press service shows that studded tires not only provide mountain biking for winter driving. When roads, gravel roads and trails are covered with snow and ice, the traction of regular tires is not enough to provide enough propulsion, turning and braking.
That is why most engine repair specialists and ordinary car owners note that warming up cars for 5-10 minutes in winter is no longer required. Literally 1-2 minutes of idling will be enough, after which you can immediately start driving the car.
To remedy this, these are studded tires whose sharp metal pins are drilled into the frozen ground and thereby increase static friction. This type of winter tire is allowed on the bike. Studs in everyday life Tiras today are a standard specialist dealer assortment and are available in almost all standard wheel sizes. Thus, almost every type of bike can be prepared for use on snow and ice. Even for children's wheels and trailers there are sharp tires.
The recommended air pressure is indicated on the sidewall of the tire. In dry weather, the tire should be inflated at a pressure of about five bar. Then the spikes only touch the road, and winter marathons are easily and safely transported. The Winter Marathon is available for €52 in all regular sizes from the dealer, who also happily takes care of tire changes and checks to see if there is enough new tire Place a space between yourself and the mudguard for snow to stick.
Preheating the engine in winter
If you have already decided to warm up the car engine in the cold season, then you should remember that such warming up should be performed exclusively at idle. You should not sharply gas and raise the engine speed above the 2000 mark, since in this case the car will not only not heat up, but the engine will also show increased wear, which will subsequently lead to the need for expensive repairs.
Especially in the case of pedelecs, know-how is in demand. If the engine is in the rear or front wheel, the engine must be installed after the wheel is installed. Pedal studsBut it's not just tire traction that decides whether winter touring is fun or frustrating. A safe stand on a bike, especially on a mountain bike, also greatly contributes to the control of driving maneuvers. Especially in the winter platform, pedals are recommended: They provide a larger bearing surface than conventional Batzen noodle models.
Two decisive advantages compared to a clip-on pedal: the foot can be lowered faster, which ensures safety on slippery surfaces. Also, screws and metal plates in cycling shoes can be an uncomfortable cold bridge. A country, such as Iceland, must be explored by car on a long trip. Landmarks in Iceland are spread throughout the country and mostly along the ring road.
The duration of such a winter warm-up of the car engine will directly depend on the temperature in the yard. If the overboard is about zero, no long warm-up is required. One minute of engine idling will suffice.
But at temperatures down to minus 10 degrees, two minutes of engine idling is enough. During this time, the oil will warm up slightly and will provide high-quality lubrication of moving parts.
Worth knowing and tips for driving in Iceland
If you cleverly save money on a flight to Iceland, you can invest a few euros in a rental car to explore the island on your own. Anyone who travels a lot to Germany will not find a difficult situation in Iceland. Icelanders are very relaxed, the rules of the road are largely identical to ours, and road signs well understood even without local language skills.
However, there are a few tricks, and it's not just about weather conditions or road conditions highlands. In addition to speed limits and traffic rules, there are a few things to keep in mind if you want to travel smoothly and safely throughout the island.
At ambient temperatures below minus 20 degrees, let the engine run at low idle for about 5 minutes. During this time, the car heater will heat up and the car interior will become warmer. Remember that at such low temperatures you should not immediately turn on the stove for heating after starting the car engine, since in this case the car will heat up much longer. It is necessary to let the engine run for about 3-4 minutes, which will allow the stove radiator to heat up, after which you can turn on the supply of warm air, and in the few remaining minutes the engine will finally warm up, and the temperature in the cabin will rise to a comfortable level.
Icelanders themselves are often significantly faster on the road, which is often misunderstood by tourists, especially in miserable winter road conditions. You should just react here with calmness, the locals drive here every day and are hardened by slippery roads and bad conditions. It is best to let them pass quickly and then continue on your own rhythm of well-being.
An important traffic rule for those who want to drive in Iceland. In Iceland, at multi-lane intersections with roundabout, domestic vehicles have priority! That is, whoever is driving outside must turn left to check if another vehicle wants to leave the roundabout. If this is the case, you must grant the right to another vehicle and continue only after that.
Whether it is worth using a car in extreme frosts, each car owner decides for himself on an individual basis. Someone constantly operates a car in winter, regardless of the weather on the street, but someone still decides to refuse to travel in such hellish cold. It should be said that at extreme negative temperatures, all systems and components of the car have an increased load. Therefore, even with a high-quality warm-up of the car before driving, increased wear is still noted, which can lead to failure of various components and assemblies. Especially in winter, at temperatures below minus 30, the car engine, battery and various suspension elements that use rubberized parts and gaskets will suffer.
Roads in and around Reykjavik are paved and in good condition. However, in winter, the streets suffer greatly and can cause damage, such as collapsed sides or pits in the spring. In general, it is advisable to drive slowly and with forethought. Questions about whether to rent a car from all-wheel drive, everyone should answer based on their route.
All-wheel drive is not required. If you want to travel to the Icelandic Highlands in the summer, you will need a certified car. For crossing rivers and higher altitudes, you must rent a decent jeep and know how to operate it. If you are traveling in winter, you should think about your limits first. In a small car without four-wheel drive, they should be in most drivers in the city area. The four-wheel drive brings you to the village, but the big jeep is far from the highlands.
In some cases, after a long parking of the car in the winter season, there may be certain difficulties with starting the engine. The problem can be a dead battery, which does not hold a charge well in the cold, and does not provide the necessary starting current to start the car engine. In this case, it is best not to try to somehow start the car from a pusher or start it with a light, you should dismantle the battery, charge it at home in the warmth, which will solve the existing problems with the operation of the car in the winter season.
Ask yourself what you want and you can trust and choose based on a vehicle that can support this project in the most comfortable and safe way possible. An important, maybe the most important topic when renting a car for Iceland is insurance. Most providers include liability and comprehensive coverage as standard, with many minor exceptions and high deductibles.
In most cases, the following insurance premiums are excluded from these standard packages. This is where large sums quickly appear. Everyone should judge that according to their own security needs. Be sure to check if you are fully insured for your car rental.
When warming up the car engine in winter, try to pay attention to the idle speed power unit. Usually, automation independently raises idling on a cold engine and as it warms up, it lowers them to 600-800 rpm. That is why, as soon as the indicator idle move dropped to its minimum, you can fearlessly start moving.
Normal winter tires are enough to use paved roads when cleaning. Winter tires with studs offer you more security but are rarely found in rental cars. If you are planning to go to the Highlands with your car, please check with the car rental company if the tires fit and ask how high the conditions are!
Take this and your ID or passport with you to rent a car when you pick up your car. Iceland does not require an international driving license. For me, a rental car in Iceland is essential for exploring the island on my own. While not the cheapest way to travel, in my opinion it is the only way to discover a country the way you would like to discover it on your own.
We operate the car in winter without preheating the engine
Indeed, high-quality synthetic lubricants common today retain all their performance characteristics and viscosity indicators even at deep minus. That is why any additional heating of such oil is not required. Modern cars use an appropriate injector, which is fully electronically controlled. At negative temperatures, the electronics simply increase the enrichment of the fuel-air mixture, and the car keeps high revs until it is fully warmed up. That is why such modern cars, which uses quality oil no additional warm-up is required.
If you follow the rules, move within your personal limits and follow the tips above, you will have a great time in Iceland and be able to explore this beautiful country on your own. It consists mainly of two tracks and is paved. Only in some parts of the area is the dirt comparable to a dirt road.
Attractions along the ring road
There are a lot of cheap flights to Iceland these days to Iceland, Icelandic airlines take care of that and in the following article you can read how it works and how to get cheap car rental. The hotel also has a campsite. It is only a few hundred meters from the ring road and is very well signposted from there.
Just remember that when operating such a car with a cold engine, you should not immediately increase the engine speed. During the first 3-5 kilometers after the start of the movement, certain accuracy should be observed, slowly and smoothly accelerating the car, without spinning the engine more than 3000 crankshaft revolutions. During the first few kilometers, the engine, gearbox and other components will fully warm up, after which it will be possible to use the car in full mode.
The small coastal village is a dream come true for those who really want to unplug. There is little here, but the most important thing: the sea, mountains and green meadows. It is best to take some cookies, something warm to drink and a good book. The ring road leads straight through Vik and there is no way to miss the village!
Here you can see several icebergs floating across a large lake. Don't be fooled by the front view, the lake is huge and always stocked with glaciers behind it with fresh ice. Through a small access, the glacial lake is connected to the ocean, so that the icebergs go beyond a certain size and with the right flow. Later they usually land again on the local sandy beach.
Conclusion
Proper operation a car in winter will allow you to guarantee trouble-free operation of the vehicle, avoiding any serious breakdowns, which in turn will reduce your costs for servicing and maintaining the car. To warm up or not to warm up the car engine is the decision of each car owner. Remember that this procedure is recommended for vehicles over 10 years old. But on modern and well-maintained machines, carry out such additional heating the engine is no longer required.
