What's worse for your car, heat or cold? (windshield, salvage, fuel)

[antinimby]

Which climate is worse/better for your car, one that is hot or cold?

[need4speed2012]

Cold, because so many states still use plain old salt !!!

Texas uses sodium chloride mix called MD-20 and a sand-and-10-percent-salt mix.

[ncole1]

I think sodium chloride is the norm in most places. Pretty much anywhere with snowy winters, it seems the bottom half of the cars will be white with salt.

[blktoptrvl]

For the car itself, heat. Your parts will get the most stress.

[louie0406]

Heat does more damage to a car's internals (Tranny/engine). Salt in cold winter climates does damage to the undercarriage and body.

[Cape Cod Todd]

With Heat the interior of your car bakes in the sun, paint fades and tires get dry rotted quicker.

In a cold icy environment batteries can die, fuel lines freeze up and motor blocks can freeze up and crack but the worse is the salt that eats your car and don't forget icy roads lead to more accidents that can total your car and you.

I live in the North East so have dealt with salty icy roads all my life. We don't see too many classic cars around here unless they are garaged in the Winters.
I would say a cold environment is worse for cars.

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by Cape Cod Todd

With Heat the interior of your car bakes in the sun, paint fades and tires get dry rotted quicker.

In a cold icy environment batteries can die, fuel lines freeze up and motor blocks can freeze up and crack but the worse is the salt that eats your car and don't forget icy roads lead to more accidents that can total your car and you.

I live in the North East so have dealt with salty icy roads all my life. We don't see too many classic cars around here unless they are garaged in the Winters.
I would say a cold environment is worse for cars.

I would agree. Besides road salt in some places, you can burn out a wiper motor if the wipers freeze onto the windshield, blow a freeze valve or crack a head or block, get premature ring wear from cold starts and thick oil. We have a pretty easy climate on cars,. sun only in July and August and only 80s, rare snow, and not that many days below freezing. We do have to wash the car more, because moss will grow on the window seals.

[blktoptrvl]

Road salt washes off. I bought a car that spent 7 years in Philadelphia salt winters... It is now 25 years old and had no sign of rust anywhere.

If you take care of your vehicle, salt is no issue.

[f5fstop]

Heat kills fluids and batteries faster. But really, who cares about the vehicle; which is the best for you? Cold or Hot?

[StealthRabbit]

37 yr old daily driver...
Having bought AZ baked used cars... as well as MN rust buckets (for engines and trannies). I'm glad I live in a moderate climate in PNW.

120" of drizzle / yr seems to find all the LEAKS, but mold is easier to deal with than rust and heat damage!

My AZ cars break ALL the time from heat related stress!

My MN cars go to the shredder as soon as I salvage the good stuff.

COLD is tough on some replaceable components (Starter / heating system), but modern lubricants / Synthetics offer good protection to internal engine parts.