What Causes Severe Car Shaking in Winter?
2 Answers
There are several reasons for car shaking in winter: 1. Engine mechanical failure, uneven cylinder pressure, and variations in spark plug ignition gap and timing control after prolonged use. 2. Intake system failure, including intake pipe leaks, excessive carbon buildup on intake valves and pipes, and dirt accumulation on throttle bodies and intake pipe walls. 3. Engine management system failure, such as incorrect coolant or intake air temperature signals, or wiring issues. 4. Ignition system faults, where components like spark plugs, ignition coils, and fuel injectors wear out over time. 5. Fuel supply system failure, where excessive carbon deposits inside injectors cause poor sealing or clogging. Here are solutions for winter car shaking: 1. Use higher-grade motor oil with lower viscosity in winter, such as 5W or 0W full synthetic oil. 2. Carbon buildup is heavily influenced by driving environment, air quality, and fuel quality. It's recommended to clean the throttle body every 30,000 kilometers. 3. Visit a repair shop for diagnostic computer scanning to pinpoint and resolve faults. 4. Replace spark plugs every 30,000 kilometers and use diagnostic tools to check for misfires, addressing ignition coil issues promptly.
I've been driving for many years, and in winter, the car shakes severely. Common reasons include the engine oil being too thick, which leads to poor lubrication, and incomplete combustion of gasoline during cold starts. Additionally, if the spark plugs are worn out, their ignition efficiency is worse in low temperatures, making shaking more likely. Moreover, a damp or carbon-fouled air flow sensor can malfunction in cold winter. Insufficient lubrication of the wheel hub bearings and hardened rubber bushings in lower temperatures can transmit vibrations to the car body. I recommend promptly switching to low-viscosity winter-specific engine oil, warming up the engine for a few minutes before driving, and regularly checking the spark plugs and sensors to prevent the problem from worsening and affecting driving.
