How Winter Weather Can Impact Your Mazda
Unless this is your first year in the city, you should be familiar with Ottawa’s severe winter weather. From December to March there’s a good chance you’ll run into some problems with your Mazda.
These problems have nothing to do with your Mazda itself – every car will experience these issues regardless of make and model. It’s an unfortunate inevitability with the harsh conditions we find ourselves in.
Thankfully, our team at Kanata Mazda has the experience and knowledge to help you identify these winter issues and inform you of the best practices for protecting your Mazda during the upcoming winter season.
Poor Road Conditions
Ottawa’s roads are infamous for their abundance of potholes and cracks. Have you ever wondered why there are so many? Salt, sleet, and heavy precipitation loosen up the road, making it easy for passing cars to kick up the asphalt and create potholes.
Potholes are incredibly sneaky in winter as they can be disguised by snowfall, making it easy to fall victim to one.
Your Mazda will suffer not only from hidden potholes but also from flying salt and rocks that are flung by other cars. While potholes and flying debris can be hard to avoid, we recommend that you drive as carefully as possible to protect your Mazda from any sort of harm.
Dead Batteries
There’s nothing more annoying than preparing for your commute on a snowy Monday morning and running into a dead battery. Any temperature below 0 puts your battery at risk of failing you at any moment.
Thankfully, there are measures you can take to reduce the likelihood of your battery dying.
First, try running your Mazda for a couple of minutes before you intend on driving. This will give you ample time to determine if there are any issues with your battery.
Second, invest in a battery warmer. This tool is relatively inexpensive and can save you time and money!
Lastly, check up on your battery’s connections and make sure they are secure in place.
Thickening Fluids
Low temperatures affect every aspect of your Mazda. Similarly to water, freezing temperatures will cause the fluids within your Mazda to thicken.
Thick fluids drastically affect the performance of your Mazda as the engine, transmission, and other components will not get the resources they need to operate properly.
Your engine is the most vulnerable component within your Mazda, as thick engine oil can prevent your Mazda from starting or cause the engine’s performance to drastically reduce. We recommend you use low-viscosity oil for your engine as it has a lower chance of causing problems for your Mazda.
Brittle Rubber Parts
Freezing temperatures affect rubber parts the same way they affect water – they don’t freeze, but they get stiff.
Stiff rubber parts are prone to easily breaking, snapping, or preventing basic car functions. For instance, the belts under your Mazda’s hood may snap and disable the steering wheel or cause other dangerous problems. Other parts like wipers, wheels, and gaskets can all be affected as well.
Make sure to wipe down any visible rubber with silicone spray to ensure they are not suffering from any problems. For any further concerns, book a service appointment at Kanata Mazda and we would be happy to ensure the safety of your Mazda.
Prepare for Winter at Ottawa Mazda
You can make Ottawa’s harsh winters easier with a little bit of preparation and care. Your efforts will work in tandem with the innate strength built into every Mazda to ensure that your Mazda will operate problem-free all winter long.
Contact us at Kanata Mazda today to discover your family’s next winter-ready vehicle! Kanata Mazda is the Ottawa area’s trusted source for Mazda vehicles and we’re excited for you to come test drive your new car!