| Why will your car not start in the morning? | | | | have the time and the sun is out, you can put your car |
| Synthetic oils are improving all the time but there is still | | | | in direct sunlight. Open the bonnet and leave it for 10-15 |
| one problem that oil refiners have not been able to | | | | minutes. |
| conquer - making engine oil more effective at lower | | | | - Be careful not to flood your engine with fuel |
| temperatures. See it like this: | | | | otherwise your car definitely won't start. If your engine |
| Premise 1: Oil becomes thicker in cold temperatures. | | | | won't turn over the first time, don't keep turning the key |
| Premise 2: Engine parts do not move effectively | | | | or holding it in position to hear the engine go chug, chug, |
| without the lubrication oil offers. | | | | chug, chug, chug, chug! Instead, turn the key for a |
| Conclusion: In cold weather, your car is harder to start. | | | | maximum of five seconds and leave 30 seconds or |
| What your car also needs to start is fuel (petrol/diesel). | | | | more before trying again. |
| Petrol cars use an 'ignition compression' method to | | | | - Have your car serviced regularly. Change to a |
| start whilst diesel cars compress the fuel to ignite it. | | | | winter-grade oil if at all possible. |
| Petrol (and diesel) is oil that is refined to a higher spec | | | | - Turn all of your electrical accessories off in the |
| so when it is cold, petrol contracts just like oil does - it | | | | vehicle. So this means no lights, heater, wipers, and |
| becomes thicker. This is why some people will only | | | | radio - anything that requires battery power should be |
| buy fuel at night when it is colder! Old cars have a | | | | switched firmly off. |
| manual choke which allow you to judge how much | | | | - Don't touch the accelerator when the car is either |
| more fuel your engine needs whereas, newer cars | | | | trying to start or has just started. You will cause |
| have an automatic choke that do this for you. | | | | damage to the parts as the oil is still thick and working |
| So now we know the basics behind why your car | | | | its way around the engine. |
| finds it hard to start on a cold morning, we can now | | | | And finally... |
| discuss methods to make it start. | | | | Stay with the car whilst you're warming it up - thieves |
| Tips for making your engine turn over on a cold | | | | target car owners on cold days so don't warm your |
| morning | | | | car up for it to be stolen. |
| - A little sun light can warm your battery up. If you | | | | |