Why Extreme Heat is as Hard on Your Car as Extreme Cold

The Challenge of Extreme Heat

Summer heat is brutal on vehicles. When temperatures exceed 35 degrees Celsius, your car's cooling system is under constant stress. The engine runs hotter. Fluids evaporate. Components degrade faster. Your AC system works overtime. The compressor runs continuously. Refrigerant pressure increases. Hoses and seals experience stress. A marginally functioning AC system fails completely in summer heat. Heat also affects other fluids. Engine oil thins at high temperatures. Transmission fluid breaks down. Brake fluid absorbs moisture and loses effectiveness. Battery performance drops. Tire pressure increases and causes blowouts.

The Challenge of Extreme Cold

Winter cold brings different problems. When temperatures drop below minus 20 degrees Celsius, your car's heating system is critical. The engine struggles to warm up. Fluids thicken. The battery loses power. Cold temperatures thicken engine oil, making it harder to flow. This stresses the engine during startup. Cold also affects transmission fluid, brake fluid, and coolant. Thickened fluids don't circulate properly. Your heater can't warm the cabin quickly. Batteries are especially vulnerable. Cold reduces chemical reactions inside the battery. A battery that works fine in summer might not start the car in winter. Alternators work harder to recharge cold batteries. The heater core and heating system must work efficiently to warm the cabin. A marginal heating system becomes inadequate in extreme cold.

How Extreme Heat Damages Your Vehicle

• AC compressor overheats and fails
• Engine oil thins and loses protection
• Coolant evaporates, lowering levels
• Battery loses power and dies
• Tire pressure increases, causing blowouts
• Hoses and seals crack and leak
• Paint and interior fade and deteriorate
• Transmission fluid breaks down

How Extreme Cold Damages Your Vehicle

• Engine oil thickens, straining the engine
• Battery loses power and won't start
• Heater struggles to warm the cabin
• Coolant becomes sludgy and clogs lines
• Transmission fluid thickens and won't flow
• Brakes become less responsive
• Metal contracts, creating stress points
• Water freezes in fuel lines and systems

HVAC System Stress in Both Extremes

Your heating and cooling systems work harder in extreme temperatures. In summer, the AC compressor runs constantly. In winter, the heater works continuously. Both extremes put stress on components. A well-maintained HVAC system handles these stresses. A neglected system fails under pressure. That's why maintenance matters. A system that barely cools in summer won't cool at all on the hottest day. A system that barely heats in winter won't heat on the coldest day. Regular tune-ups ensure your HVAC system is ready for seasonal extremes. A fall tune-up prepares for winter. A spring tune-up prepares for summer.

Why Both Seasons Demand Preventive Maintenance

Don't wait until summer to check your AC. Don't wait until winter to check your heater. Preventive maintenance in spring and fall catches problems before they become critical. In spring, check your AC. Test the compressor. Verify refrigerant levels. Inspect hoses and connections. A $150 tune-up in spring prevents a $1,500 failure in July. In fall, check your heater. Verify the thermostat works. Check coolant levels. Inspect hoses. A $150 tune-up in fall prevents a $1,500 failure in January. This approach is cheaper than emergency repairs. It's also safer. You won't be stranded in extreme heat or cold.

Fluid Maintenance Protects Against Extremes

Your vehicle relies on fluids to function. Engine oil, coolant, transmission fluid, and brake fluid all degrade in extreme temperatures. Regular fluid maintenance protects your vehicle. Change your engine oil on schedule. Use the correct viscosity for your climate. In cold climates, use thinner oil. In hot climates, use thicker oil. Your owner's manual specifies the right grade. Flush your coolant every 5 years. Fresh coolant contains inhibitors that protect against corrosion and freezing. Old coolant loses effectiveness. Change your transmission fluid on schedule. This fluid breaks down in heat and thickens in cold. Regular changes maintain performance. Bleed your brakes and replace brake fluid every 2 years. Old brake fluid absorbs moisture and becomes less effective in both heat and cold.

The Battery and Extreme Temperatures

Your battery suffers in both heat and cold. In summer, heat accelerates chemical reactions inside the battery. The battery discharges faster. In winter, cold slows chemical reactions. The battery can't provide enough power. A battery rated for 600 cold-cranking amps at 0 degrees Celsius might only provide 300 amps at minus 20 degrees. That's not enough to start a modern engine. Have your battery tested before summer and winter. Replace it if it's more than 3 years old. A new battery handles extreme temperatures better. Keep battery terminals clean. Corrosion reduces electrical connection. A clean connection ensures maximum power transfer.

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