How Low Temperatures Can Affect Your Truck Regular Use

Do you know the impact of low temperatures and how it can affect your truck’s regular running? During winter, everything suffers right from animals to various machines that make work easier. The cold temperature strains various parts under your truck’s hood, which can interfere with the driving condition. Whenever you leave your truck at the parking, you should understand the adverse effects the winter weather can cause to it. As soon as you are through with reading this guide, you will understand how low temperature affects your truck’s regular use. 

Corrosion

During winter when there are low temperatures, salt is used to melt snow on the roads and the streets. When driving, your truck comes into contact with the melted snow with salt. The salt sticks to various parts of your truck such as the brakes, wheels, and undercarriage. The accumulation of salt in these parts leads to corrosion.

During winter, it is essential to wash your truck regularly, paying more attention to the parts that come into contact with the salt. Avoid wiping salt, as this can scratch the paint of your truck. 

Poor Traction

Low-temperature results in the reduction of the tire pressure. After driving your truck for a while, it will generate heat that will increase the tire pressure. If you use the all-season tires, they will harden the moment temperatures go below 45 degrees. 

The deflation and inflation of truck tires during winter results in loss of traction. You can prevent this by fixing winter tires that will remain soft and offer a good grip on the road during the cold season. 

The Engine Block Can Crack

During the winter low temperatures, your coolant is likely to freeze. When this happens, the coolant becomes hard, which can crack your engine block. Cracks on the engine block lead to various performance issues. To prevent this from happening, use the right coolant during winter. Never mix the regular, green 2-year anti-freeze with long life-life coolant. Doing this reduces the lifespan of the coolant itself. 

Thickening of Fluids

Your truck depends on various fluids such as motor oil, transmission fluid, suspension fluid, and coolant. The extreme cold during winter leads to the thickening of these fluids. They thus will not move smoothly within their respective hoses, when such happens, your truck can malfunction anytime. 

Before the winter season starts, there are signs that you should be aware of. Whenever you note such signs, consider checking the level of all the fluids within your truck and top them up.

Increase In Fuel Consumption

During the low temperatures of winter, trucks usually struggle to function, due to less road grip your truck will move slowly and consume more fuel. Leaving your truck idle for a longer duration in winter also increases the rate of fuel consumption. 

Conclusion,

Winter can be devastating to your truck, it is during this time of the year you might experience emergency breakdowns and other mechanical issues. It is, therefore, necessary to know some of the effects of the cold temperature on your truck and how you can prevent them. All you need to know about winter and the effects it has on your truck has been covered in this guide.