What to Do When a Gasoline Car Has Difficulty Starting in Winter?
2 Answers
Solutions for gasoline cars having difficulty starting in winter include promptly recharging the battery or replacing it with a new one. Methods for maintaining a car battery are: 1. Start the car regularly to charge the battery; 2. Add distilled water or a specialized replenishing fluid when the electrolyte level is low; 3. Frequently check if the small holes on the battery cover are ventilated during daily driving; 4. Inspect the battery's positive and negative terminals for signs of oxidation. The functions of a car battery include: 1. Providing power to the starting system, ignition system, and electronic fuel injection system when starting the engine; 2. Supplying power to the car's electrical equipment when the engine is off or idling at low speed; 3. Assisting in powering electrical devices when the generator's output is insufficient; 4. Mitigating voltage surges in the electrical system to protect the car's electronic devices; 5. Storing excess electricity generated by the alternator.
As a daily driver, I deeply understand the frustration of gasoline cars being hard to start in winter. The reason is that cold weather reduces battery performance and capacity, making it prone to power loss. Therefore, I regularly check the battery status and replace it if the voltage drops below 12.4 volts. Engine oil viscosity thickens in low temperatures, making it like glue and causing difficulty in starting the engine. I recommend using low-viscosity synthetic oils like 5W-30 or 0W-20 and switching to them in advance to avoid trouble. Preheating tips are also important—before starting in the morning, I turn the key to the ON position for a few seconds to let the fuel pump work before ignition. Parking in a garage or sheltered spot and using a battery insulation cover helps reduce freezing damage. Additionally, worn or carbon-fouled spark plugs can cause ignition failure, so replacing them every 30,000–40,000 kilometers ensures smoother winter starts.
