The winter months see plenty of car owners observing their vehicles making louder noise and/or more activity. These sounds may be alarming, but in most cases, they are a normal function of your car’s operation in cooler temperatures. Cold weather impacts everything from the engine to the exhaust system, which can cause added noise. A squeaking noise while driving could be one of the sounds you notice, often related to the cold affecting suspension parts or brake components. Knowing the reasons behind this can help you keep your car in good shape and avoid unnecessary stress.
Sound from Internal Engine Components: Cold Weather Effects
Cold weather can do a lot of damage to the engine of your car. As temperatures decrease, engine oil becomes thicker, and it becomes more difficult for the oil to be distributed smoothly. That added viscosity does lead to more friction in the engine and that leads to noise. This is how the winter cold impacts your engine:
- Thicker Engine Oil: Oil thickens up in cold weather and does not flow as well through the engine. This adds additional friction, which results in more engine noise.
- Metal Contraction: Cold weather causes metal parts of the engine to contract. This can cause them to move, which leads to louder sounds while in use.
- Winter Fuel Additives: Fuel formulated for the colder months has special additives that allow the engine to perform optimally. All of these additives can cause the engine to behave somewhat differently, resulting in prolonged elevated noise levels.
Winter Car Noise Attributable To Other Components: Suspension & Tires
Other components like suspension and tires tend to sound more in winter too. Cold weather can firm up rubber parts, which makes tires louder on the road. The suspension system also gets a workout in winter, having to absorb the bumps coming from more mismatched road surfaces, ice and snow.
These combos can create odd sounds, like squeaks or muffled thuds. Also, if you have snow tires on, they will sound significantly different than your normal tires as snow tires are a different tread than a summer tire. In winter months roads can become noisy or dangerous to drive on, so it’s best to check wear on your tires and suspension, as these components may need additional attention to keep vehicles safe and quiet on these winter roads.
