Why does the car shake severely when starting in winter?
2 Answers
Winter car shaking when starting is caused by: insufficient combustion of gasoline in the engine, resulting in inadequate power supply, or stuck or clogged fuel injectors. Many cases of engine shaking are due to fuel injector blockage or sticking, which leads to insufficient fuel supply and power loss, thereby causing engine vibration. An engine is a machine that can convert other forms of energy into mechanical energy. It was invented in the UK and can be used both as a power generation device and as a complete machine including the power unit (such as gasoline engines, aircraft engines). Its types include internal combustion engines (such as gasoline engines), external combustion engines (such as Stirling engines, steam engines), and electric motors.
I know all too well about severe car shaking during winter starts—my old ride had this issue during last year's cold snap. Cold-start shaking typically stems from three main causes: Most commonly, it's due to overly viscous engine oil; cold weather thickens the oil, slowing its flow and leaving engine components inadequately lubricated, causing dry friction and vibrations. Next is insufficient battery voltage—low temperatures reduce electrolyte activity, weakening starting current and leading to irregular spark plug ignition, resulting in jerky movements. Lastly, throttle body carbon buildup or a frozen mass airflow sensor can disrupt the air-fuel mixture ratio. Back then, I noticed the tachometer needle bouncing wildly during shaking, which improved significantly after switching to winter-grade oil. Below freezing, remember to power on for a few seconds to let the fuel pump prime before ignition, and always check the antifreeze's freezing point if the car's been parked long-term.