The car will not start when lighting a cigarette in cold weather. Thickened engine oil in the engine

For most car owners, winter is real. headache, because not everyone has a separate heated garage. This means that starting the engine will cause a lot of trouble. In the cold season, even the most modern new car It may become capricious, refuse to start and begin to stall.

Main reasons

The following systems can be called “culprits” for the fact that the car does not want to start:

• ignition system;
• battery;
• supply system;
• cold engine starting system;
• Lubrication system.

In addition, to the existing problems you can not add quality fuel, which is often sold to us at gas stations.

What to do if the car won't start?

In this case, use the following tips.

This device comes in two types: stand-alone and network-powered. Electric heating requires constant presence next to a 220 V power source in the place where the machine is stored. And the heating time varies from 20 to 40 minutes. An autonomous heater is much more convenient: it does not require a connection to the network, and it has an “on/off” function that operates several times at night or during the day.

1. Cars with gasoline engines, just like diesel ones, may refuse to start in the cold. At negative temperatures, normal evaporation of gasoline does not occur. Another problem is high humidity, it increases the risk of “flooding” the spark plugs with cold gasoline:

If this has already happened, you should unscrew the spark plugs and check the petals and graphite rod. If they get wet, then you will have to screw in a spare set of candles or heat the old ones over a gas stove. If the spark plugs are heated, the car will start the first time.

These tips will be very useful in the cold season, but it is better to take care of your car in advance and carry out some preventive measures even before frost sets in. Renew the oil, use coolant of the required concentration, fill the car only with high-quality fuel, check the condition of the battery, replace spark plugs if necessary, clean all contacts from oxidation. In addition, it will be useful to change all filters and insulate the engine and radiator of your car.

Also, the installation of alarm systems with remote start engine. Some models turn on the car engine remotely after a certain time and maintain the engine temperature for the required time, so starting such an engine will not be a problem. Otherwise, the attack will catch you at the most inopportune moment. And without a “cigarette lighter” it will be very difficult to start.

If your car has difficulty starting in cold weather, do not rush to despair: there is a way out of this situation. After all, even if you leave a vehicle in a heated garage, it still has to be parked on the street from time to time. And these are far from greenhouse conditions for starting an engine.

What about the engine, when severe frosts sometimes prevent you from getting into the cabin - the locks freeze so much or the door seals freeze. To get rid of these problems, use auto chemical products. For example, spray WD-40 or similar into the lock gap. Or take a walk silicone grease on rubber door seals.

Now, having found yourself in your own salon, it’s time to think about why the engine won’t start in cold weather and what needs to be done. True, these recommendations are only suitable if the machine is in good working order. Therefore, before winter, it’s better to come to our service center, and then you can start the car without any problems if:

• Without starting the engine, turn on the ignition and allow the fuel pump to pump fuel for 2-5 minutes.
• Warm up the battery before starting. To do this, turn on for 10 seconds. high beam. To minimize the load on the battery, be sure to turn off all electrical appliances when turning on the starter. After turning off the headlights, try to start the engine. If you are driving a car with manual transmission gears, then, after a cold night, squeeze the clutch.

Keep the clutch depressed for several minutes. This will prevent the engine from stalling and will allow the frozen power unit to start more easily.

• If the car still won’t start, press the gas pedal “to the floor” and turn on the starter. IN in this case The combustion chambers will begin to be purged with fuel that has accumulated during unsuccessful previous attempts.
• If in the tank diesel car In the cold weather, summer diesel fuel remains, is it any wonder why the engine does not start in the cold? At low temperatures, such fuel thickens, gradually turning into a paraffin mass. It accumulates in the injection pump, filter, injectors. You will have no choice but to carefully pour boiling water onto these units. But do it not just carefully, but extremely carefully! Otherwise, you will flood the starter and generator. So accept preventive measure– before “watering” filters, injectors and fuel pump high pressure Cover the generator and starter with a plastic bag.
• Car owners with gasoline engine We also encounter a situation where the car does not start in cold weather. This is easily explained: when low temperatures no fuel evaporation occurs. And with high humidity, there is a high risk of pouring cold gasoline into the spark plugs.

What if this happens, unscrew the spark plugs and check if the graphite rod and petals are wet? If yes, then try calcining wet candles over a switched on gas stove burner. Or screw in a spare set of spark plugs. But remember - heated spark plugs will help the engine start the first time.

• If the engine does not start in cold weather, you need to check that the coolant has not frozen. This phenomenon may lead to overheating power unit. In this case, without opening the hood, turn off the engine for 10-15 minutes. And keep in mind that often when the coolant freezes, more than one ice plug forms. If it does not melt as described above, do not risk the integrity of the engine. It’s better to call a tow truck and drive the car to a warm garage. And then replace the existing coolant with another, more frost-resistant one.
• To avoid having to deal with problems that have arisen right in the middle of the road, before driving, always warm up the engine to its lower limit. operating temperature. Driving with a poorly warmed-up engine, and even with the heater, headlights and other devices on, is a crime against your car!
• If the engine does not warm up sufficiently, do not turn off the engine. Otherwise, you risk not starting the first time in the future. After waiting a couple of minutes, try again. This way you will free the starter and battery from unnecessary load.

In general, remember! If the car engine does not start in cold weather, there is hardly any need to look for reasons. The main thing is to know what and how to do. Better yet, in anticipation of winter:

• refresh the oil;
• fill with coolant of the correct concentration;
• check the battery
• replace the spark plugs or make sure the old ones are in working order;
• clean the contacts.

And also change the oil, air and fuel filters. Ultimately, find a gas station with quality fuel and become a regular.

If you don’t want to do all this yourself, contact the VAG MOTORS car service in Rostov-on-Don. We will quickly, inexpensively and conscientiously prepare your vehicle for the cold, you will forget about the sad car question: “The engine won’t start in winter, what should I do?” Contact us, we know how to help you!

Good afternoon. In this article I will tell you why the car does not start in cold weather. Traditionally for our site, the article contains a lot of photos and video materials.

Reasons why a car won't start in cold weather.

Battery problems.

This is a classic of the genre. The fact is that in cold weather the battery capacity is significantly reduced. If the battery is very discharged, it may even freeze.

Here is a small picture that perfectly shows the remaining battery capacity:

To avoid problems with charging the battery, it is necessary once a year, before starting winter season, carry out battery maintenance.

It is advisable to replace it once every 5 years, since there is a high probability that the engine will not start in cold weather. Usually it happens like this:

If such a problem happens to you, do not rush to call a tow truck. You can ask fellow car owners to light a cigarette, here is an article about how to do it correctly.

The second common reason is problems with the ignition system.

Although automotive electronics are designed to ensure the ignition system operates when the engine is started, it often happens that there is not enough voltage for reliable sparking, so before the start of the winter season it is necessary to inspect the ignition system and change the spark plugs if their service life has expired.

The third common cause of problems with winter factory cars is condensation in the fuel or fuel that is out of season.

We have it on our website about condensate in the tank and it will be repeated, it makes no sense, but in short - when large quantities condensation in the tank may clog the mesh and the fuel intake will freeze.

About fuel out of season - this problem is relevant only for diesel engines. Diesel fuel depends very much on temperature. Summer fuel Paraffin begins to crystallize and deposit on filters at a temperature of -5 degrees. They bring it to gas stations until the last minute, since it is cheaper. Therefore, if you are traveling to diesel car, buy anti-gel.

In extreme cold, no additives will help you. Diesel fuel will behave like this:

We agreed that if the temperature outside dropped below -30 there is no point in starting a diesel car.

If you have problems starting a diesel engine, water it with anti-gel and change the filters. Well main recommendation— remove condensation from the tank and use fuel according to the season.

Problems with the lubrication system - the oil was filled out of season.

This point comes in last place, since in most modern cars semi-synthetic or synthetic oil with a viscosity of 5w30 or 10w40, both oils have sufficient viscosity in winter time of the year.

However, in severe frosts fake oil It may well thicken so much that it will be difficult for the starter to crank the engine.

The result is that the engine will not start.

You can check the condition of the oil by simply pulling out the dipstick:

Here short video about how oil thickens in cold weather:

Recommendations for troubleshooting the problem- use quality oil taking into account its temperature characteristics. If your car is equipped with a manual transmission, do not be lazy to depress the clutch when starting the engine. This will make your starter last longer.

If you encounter oil thickening, wait for it to warm up or call a tow truck and change the oil in a warm place.

Conclusion.

That's all for me today. I hope that after reading the article, you received an answer to why your car won’t start in cold weather.

If you have any questions, or if you want to add to the article, write comments.

During the cold season, all the problems in the car begin to take their toll. All drivers know the famous Russian saying - “where it’s thin, it breaks.” This is exactly what it's about winter operation car. All you have to do is forget about the timely maintenance or skip the process of preparing the car for winter, as the operation of the vehicle becomes simply impossible. If your car won't start in winter, there can be quite a few problems.

Sub-zero temperature is not the best best time for a trip by car, but we can’t preserve the vehicle in the garage for the whole winter in order to preserve it performance characteristics. And such a long downtime won’t lead to anything good either. So you need to learn how to properly operate a car in the cold season.

Preparing the car for winter - the basic principles of a winter trip

If we talk directly about the function of the engine, then the most important process when preparing for winter is to ensure normal oil and fuel filters for the operation of the power unit. You should also check the operation of the fuel supply system and, if necessary, clean the injector or diesel engine nozzles. This will help ensure proper fuel atomization and ensure normal starting of the power unit.

The oil in the engine and gearbox must be either universal (for the middle climatic zone of Russia) or specially for winter. The latter option does not increase the viscosity index even at temperatures below 40 degrees. Also, when preparing your car for winter, do not forget about the following points:

• replacing car filters, including the cabin filter and air element;
• security normal operation windshield wiper blades with soft rubber;
• if necessary, install a pre-heater (especially important for a diesel engine);
• normal functioning of the windshield washer system;
• replacing tires with ones that are appropriate for the season and temperature characteristics.

When preparing your car for winter, you need to consider climatic conditions operation. If you live in the southern part of the country, then it will be much easier to use the car, because the temperature, even at night, rarely drops below -15 degrees. If you have to travel through the harsh conditions of the North, you should carry out all the preparatory work in advance.

Think about the safe operation of the car in any conditions. After all, this is the most important criterion car use. Be sure to carry out all the changes that will help you control the car in any snowfall, keep it on the road, and also start it smoothly in severe frosts.

Reasons for difficulty starting the engine in cold weather

It can be quite difficult to start the power unit when the temperature falls below -15 degrees Celsius. In this case, the oil begins to change its physical properties, becomes more viscous and complicates the movement of the pistons at the engine starting stage. Injectors and nozzles in engines also freeze, making normal fuel atomization more difficult.

In such conditions, it is necessary to start the car as carefully as possible, because several unsuccessful attempts can simply flood the spark plugs and prevent you from starting the power unit normally. The most important points that prevent the normal start-up of the power unit in cold weather are the following:

• freezing of fuel in the lines and directly in the injectors of a diesel engine;
• injector clogged with solid particles - often happens with low-quality fuel;
• too hardened oil in the engine, which does not allow the power unit to turn;
• shrunken accumulator battery, which cannot crank the engine;
• the car has been idle for too long in low temperatures.

It is difficult to avoid all these situations, but there are special means that will help you do this. For diesel engines, the solution to all problems will be preheater. It is desirable that the device works not only for the engine, but also for the interior. You should also always monitor the quality of fuel poured into a car with an injection engine.

The oil should be chosen according to the season so that it does not harden or become excessively viscous. If you have such problems, you can simply warm up the crankcase with a heater, placing it under the car. The battery needs to be well charged before winter, and if necessary, buy a new one to replace it.

How to start a car in cold weather?

To avoid problems that arise for almost all motorists during the cold season, simply follow the rules for starting the engine in winter. Let's start with the fact that it is not recommended to store a car outside in severe frosts. Even if you don’t have your own garage, find indoor parking that will provide adequate storage for your car. This will save you from all sorts of problems starting the engine. It is also worth observing the following sequence when starting the engine in the cold season:

• turn on the ignition and let on-board computer figure out what's what;
• depress the clutch to disconnect the box from the power unit;
• perform the first crank of the engine - no more than three to four seconds;
• if the car does not start, wait about a minute and try to start again;
• if there is no startup the second time, it is necessary to eliminate possible problems;
• If there is a problem with the battery, you can try to “light it” from another car.

The clutch must be depressed so as not to immediately drain the battery, because the oil in the box is also very thick when sub-zero temperature, it is quite difficult for the starter to turn both the engine and the gearbox. If the start is unsuccessful the second time, try heating the crankcase, unscrewing and drying the spark plugs. Take a break between attempts to start the engine for at least one minute, otherwise you will simply fill the spark plugs with gasoline and will not be able to start the engine. Never act like a hero next video, who is trying to show his viewers the shortcomings of his car:

Let's sum it up

Winter operation of the car is sufficient complex process. It is necessary to have all the information about preparing your car for winter so as not to encounter certain problems. Just follow the experts' recommendations to avoid certain problems when trying to start your engine in winter. The better your preparation, the fewer problems there will be when operating the vehicle.

Please pay Special attention for such details winter preparation, like engine oil, battery and serviceability of all fuel system. Often these three components are the main problems when starting the engine in winter. Tell us what problems you encountered in winter - write about them in the comments.

December 3, 2018

How colder in winter, those more problems For motorists, many components and parts of the car, which previously worked properly, begin to function unstably. And starting the engine can even become a whole lottery: it will start or it won’t start. The car will not start in cold weather - this problem is familiar to everyone whose car sleeps in the yard, open parking lot or in an unheated garage.

Reasons for difficulty starting a car in cold weather

Novice drivers are interested in the question of why the car won’t start in cold weather. There are plenty of reasons: problems with the battery and starter, an increase in lubricant thickness, disruption of the fuel supply in the system, as well as the use of summer grades of diesel fuel in diesel cars.

Battery problems

The battery is the main culprit for problems with starting a car in cold weather, especially if the battery has been actively used for more than 3 years - at this time its power begins to decrease. In addition, particles of rust and dirt accumulate on the battery terminals over time, and oxidation of the terminals and contacts can be caused by temperature fluctuations: when the engine is turned off, the wires have the same temperature as environment, and at the moment of start-up they begin to heat up. This process leads to a gradual breakdown of the integrity of the connections.

Chemical processes inside the battery slow down at sub-zero temperatures: already at -15...-20°C it operates at only 40% of its potential even when fully charged - this is another reason for problems with starting the engine.

Starter malfunction

It is not uncommon for the starter to break down in winter. This unit is subject to critical loads in cold weather due to:

• thickening of lubricants;
• freezing of moving parts of parts due to condensate freezing on them;
• changes in resistance at the contacts.

All this leads to an increase in the current flowing through the armature, which causes incorrect operation of the unit, and sometimes even destruction of the armature, starter brushes, and commutator lamellas.

Thickened motor oil

At subzero temperatures, lubricants tend to become thicker, which increases resistance in rotating and moving mechanisms. This, in turn, increases the load at the starting moment on the battery, which is also cooled, as a result of which the battery discharges faster. Using special winter brands of oil can partially solve the problem.

The coolant also only works in the range specified by the manufacturer. temperature range, when this indicator decreases, it freezes. At the same time, the starter will continue to rotate, which often causes breakdown of the entire unit and makes it impossible to operate the car. To avoid this, use coolant designed for the appropriate climate conditions.

Bad gasoline or its supply is interrupted

The problem is also the use low quality fuel. The drops of moisture contained in it, freezing, form ice plugs that prevent the normal flow of the mixture into the combustion chamber. You can prevent trouble by using high-quality fuel or specialized additives.

In the cold, operating parameters deteriorate and fuel pumps, which leads to problems in the functioning of injectors and nozzles. Misfire may occur in some or even all cylinders.

The ignition system is misregulated

The main “winter” enemy of the fuel system, which causes its imbalance, is moisture entering the unit in the form of condensate. It freezes at sub-zero ambient temperatures, preventing the flow of the fuel-air mixture.

Spark plugs flooded

IN winter period It is necessary to use proven spark plugs; it would be a good idea to change them in the off-season, before the first cold weather begins, and also have a spare set of spark plugs with you. Except common problems, which can occur at any time of the year, there is also a typical “winter” one - the candles are filled with fuel.

Education in the cold combustible mixture requires a change in conditions. In the frosty air, the concentration of oxygen is increased, and accordingly, more gasoline will be needed, and the command to increase the fuel supply is given electronic unit controls on the injector nozzles. Cold starter issues weak spark, and meanwhile the injectors continue to supply fuel to the system, which fills the spark plugs.

The use of summer diesel fuel in diesel cars

A diesel car may not start in winter due to the use of the wrong fuel. Summer diesel fuel- a special grade of diesel fuel - can only be used at an ambient temperature of at least -5°C, because already at -6°C it becomes cloudy and thick, and at -7... -8°C it begins to solidify.

The crystals formed in this process:

• the fuel filter is clogged;
• accumulate in the heat pipe;
• damage the engine and other components of the mechanism.

If it is not possible to use winter fuel, you should definitely use special additives for diesel fuel.

Basic ways to start a car in cold weather

Before starting the car, turn off all energy consumers - headlights, heated seats, mirrors and windows. Do not allow the starter to spin for too long, as this may cause it to fail. Make several starting attempts, with a pause between which should be at least 1 minute, - this way you will reduce the load on the battery, and in cars with manual transmission, press the clutch when trying to start the engine.

There are several ways to start a car in cold weather, let's look at them in more detail.

Move the battery to a warm place

The performance of even a fully charged battery in severe frost is reduced, which makes problems with a dead battery more likely. Therefore, it would be useful to use the old-fashioned method - to remove standing car Battery and store it in a room with positive temperatures. You can also warm up an already frozen battery, but this may take up to 3 hours.

Under no circumstances should you forcefully heat the battery, much less place it near sources of open fire.

Recharge the battery from the charger

This method is suitable if the driver has at least half an hour to an hour. The procedure is carried out in the traditional way - the terminals are disconnected from the battery and the charger clamps are connected in their place.

Boost your car battery with headlights

This procedure involves turning on the high or low beam headlights for 15-20 seconds. Then they should be turned off and the key turned in the starter. In most cases, the engine starts, but if this does not happen, try again after a couple of minutes: turn on the headlights again and try to start the engine. If 3 attempts are unsuccessful, it means the battery is completely discharged.

Light a cigarette from another car

For this operation you need a second car, without problems starting the engine. The positive terminal of the problem battery should be connected with a wire with an alligator clip to a similar terminal of the charged battery. With the second such wire, connect the negative of the battery to normal charge and any metal element of your car’s engine. It is not recommended to connect the negative terminals to each other, except in cases where you do not have exposed areas under the hood, for example, they are covered with plastic.

First, the car starts with a charged battery and runs for about 20 minutes at 2000 rpm - this should be enough for the dead battery to charge to a level sufficient to start the engine on its own. Then they start the second car, and if the start is successful, they leave both vehicles working for another 5-10 minutes. After this, you can disconnect the wires by first removing them from the battery of the donor car, and then from the recipient.

Try to push start the car

This method is only suitable for cars with a manual transmission and if the driver has an assistant, because at least two people need to perform the procedure: one will steer, the other will push. The operation is carried out in the following order:

• the clutch should be kept depressed;
• the driver turns the ignition key;
• The gearshift lever is immediately set to 2nd or 3rd speed;
• the assistant, pushing the car, accelerates it to approximately jogging speed;
• The clutch releases smoothly.

Immediately after this, the car should start, but do not set off immediately - let the engine warm up for at least 10 minutes.

Start the car using special equipment

If all the previous methods to start the car in severe frost were unsuccessful, you will have to contact a car service specialist. They use special portable charging devices. Their use is the simplest, most effective and at the same time safe way start the engine.

Buy a new battery

But if even an experienced technician using specialized equipment could not start the car, you will have to buy new battery. In this case, the model should be selected more power than the previous battery. All new batteries are supplied charged and therefore ready for immediate use.

How to start correctly in cold weather?

Here's how to start your car in cold weather:

• Press the gas pedal several times to ensure the supply of fuel to the cylinders;
• you cannot turn on the stove, headlights and other energy consumers;
• set the gearshift lever to the neutral position, press the clutch;
• try to start the engine in short (about 3-5 seconds) sessions with 30-second breaks;
• After a successful attempt, you should warm up the car for about 15-20 seconds, and then smoothly release the clutch pedal.

The algorithm of actions for cars with automatic transmission is the same, only you won’t have to press the clutch pedal due to its absence.

Preventive maintenance will help you not to worry that you won’t be able to start your car after frost. It consists of changing the oil to winter oil, replacing the oil, air and fuel filters. It would be useful to check the density and level of electrolyte in the battery, the condition of the spark plugs and the generator before the onset of cold weather.