In January, it's not uncommon to find the car caught in the ice deposited during an episode of freezing rain. The efforts made to thaw it out may have convinced you to store it in the garage. But is it really such a good idea?

Clearing snow from your car is mainly a question of time, but freeing your vehicle from the ice is another story altogether! Perhaps you're one of those who haven't managed to open the doors? If so, you'll have to admit that parking your car in the garage is a tempting solution. There are a number of advantages, but there are also some significant disadvantages.  

Everyday comfort

Putting your car in the garage has a number of advantages: the daily chore of snow removal is a thing of the past; the ordeal of your car getting stuck in the ice is a thing of the past; the shock of going to the car in the morning is a thing of the past. Incidentally, it also eliminates the need to pre-start the vehicle to heat it: a win for the environment, and also for your wallet (given the current price of gas).

Mechanically, it also has its advantages: preserved from the cold, fluids like motor oil will be immediately effective, lubricating mechanical parts more quickly. The same goes for coolants, brake fluids, etc. As for windscreen wipers, their service life will be significantly extended.

Thermal shock can generate wear and tear

It may seem paradoxical, but taking the car into the garage every day during the winter months won't damage it any faster. More than snow, it's water that causes corrosion. But every evening, when you bring the car in from the cold, the snow will melt, leaving room for water and therefore corrosion.

This phenomenon is all the more important as it is not confined to the external parts of the car. The transition from cold to warm leads to the creation of mist... which is nothing other than water.As a result, engine parts such as gaskets, contactors and the like, although protected by the hood, will also have to contend with a more corrosive phenomenon.

How to weigh up the pros and cons?

If you opt for a garage, you have to be careful not to overheat it, so as not to accentuate thermal shocks and their effects. In absolute terms, an unheated garage is great for your car... a little less so for your comfort.

Another solution is to use the garage only on the eve of weather warnings (particularly those announcing freezing rain).To do this, however, you need to leave enough space for your car in the garage.