It is harder to start vehicles in the cold, because the energy requirements to crank an engine increase, while the battery’s ability to produce energy decreases.

As temperatures drop, vehicle energy requirements go up, mainly because of engine oil viscosity. Viscosity refers to the thickness or consistency of a fluid. Lower temperatures make the oil thicker, which makes the engine harder to crank.

Batteries produce energy from a chemical reaction; as temperatures drop, so does the reaction rate. This contributes to batteries producing less energy; if batteries don’t produce enough energy to meet the cranking requirements, the vehicle will have trouble starting.

There are three things that fleets need to maintain vehicles in cold conditions:

• Make sure technicians have the proper equipment needed to test vehicles electrical systems
• Properly train technicians to perform the right test to get accurate results
• Have the right processes and procedures in place so technicians can easily maintain heavy-duty vehicles

With the right tools, knowledge, and procedures, technicians can easily reduce no-start situations.

Are you dealing with battery issues? Are you looking for advice? We welcome your comments and questions below.

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