Winter experience anyone?

[dsmcoder]

I just got my 1g dsm and I was wondering if anyone knows if they will start in -40 to -50 degrees F weather without a block heater. My old car did but I sold it. Here in Montana you get the worst of both worlds 107F in the summer and -50F in the winter .

 

[Bluefire16]

I feel ya man, similar in Michigan. With wind chill, i would see -20 or colder at times. Car would take a few more seconds to crank, but still would start. Just let it warm up for a while before you drive it.

 

[Boomdeeze]

Ya im right with you on this one, I live in MN and we see some cold winters but you should be fine.

 

[luv2rallye]

Just put cardboard in front of the radiator if you expect any heat.

 

[Bluefire16]

^^ Hahaha SO TRUE. I would rather burn the gas and let my car run for 20-30 mins before i drive it and at least have it be a LITTLE warm, then freezing. Sometimes the car wont even get hot at ALL for the 10 min drive i need to take it.

 

[dsm03]

My weather is just like Minnesota, but it sticks.. when its cold.. ITS FREAKING COLD!!!


My previous dsm started in tempuratures as low as -53 w/ wind chill..

Never had a block heater, highly recommend one!

Oh, and make sure you let that baby warm up a good 10 mins.. Even then...


Best way to warm up any engine or vehicle, Drive it! just not right away after a few mins, gradually drive and bring up to speed/pace, Once fully warm drive at normal conditions and be Safe... Best tips I can recommend for any person/car.

 

[Dert]

I'm in Canada, -40C,-58 with winchills, no block heater, started everytime, loud ass belts and power steering tho untill it warmed up this will be first winter where she will be parked, car is 97 gst

 

[luv2rallye]

When it's below -10F (or even 0) and car sits outside all night, a block heater and light weight (or synthetic) oil is recommended for reliable starts. Otherwise your extremely weakened battery (has less than half capacity due to low temps) may not last long enough to get it running on it's own. Or you can just bring your battery inside to sleep with you (which is what I did in college).

 

[dsmcoder]

Thanks for all the advice guys

 

[viprez586]

I've got a block heater, of course my FIAV is blocked off, with no coolant lines running to it. I have phenolic Throttle body and intake manifold spacers.
Throttle body and intake manifold are super cold during winter which is awesome! Great for drastically lowering your intake charge temps - so much I have to re-tune during winter!

Over night I let the block heater turn on 1-2hrs before I wake up - this maintains 80* coolant temperature.
After I leave work it fires right up perfectly though. It Revs high - 1.8K for a few seconds and then settles out.
I have my idle speed set to 1k which also helps warm the car up to operating temp slightly faster.

 

[2GbTalonGuy]

My weather is just like Minnesota, but it sticks.. when its cold.. ITS FREAKING COLD!!!


My previous dsm started in tempuratures as low as -53 w/ wind chill..

Never had a block heater, highly recommend one!

Oh, and make sure you let that baby warm up a good 10 mins.. Even then...


Best way to warm up any engine or vehicle, Drive it! just not right away after a few mins, gradually drive and bring up to speed/pace, Once fully warm drive at normal conditions and be Safe... Best tips I can recommend for any person/car.

A wind chill doesn't have any effect on an engine except for how fast it will cool down to the ambient temperature. Once it cools down to the outside temp, the wind chill has no effect on a car.


Yeah, I would install a block heater. Some DSM's tend to have a tought time starting in that cold. It depends on the car though. I would rather be prepared than have it not start. I am dreading the -40 -50 mornings coming in the next few months. I dont drive my DSM in the winter though. I have a pickup for that.

 

[tsi87889095]

I lived in Wyoming for a year so i know how cold it can get around there. I saw -40 a lot. I never had a block heater and i was fine. But i only lived there a year. If i were you i would definitely get one it cant hurt and will make it easier on your car.

 

[dsmcoder]

How hard are block heaters to install, anyone have a guide?

 

[Oldsid]

How hard are block heaters to install, anyone have a guide?

It is fairly easy and all it takes is to remove an engine bloc plug and mount the heater resistance. Most reputable shops can do and it is fairly cheap. It is also a good time to change the coolant and put the proper mix for low temperature. Usually a 70(coolant)/30(water) mixture gives the lowest temperature. If you don't want to use a block heater, use a battery "blanket" heater ( the black part around the battery in the attached picture). You just wrap it around your battery and plug it about two hours (use a timer)before you start the car and your battery will be a good as during warm weather.

 

[jas510]

remote start w/ cardboard... I did at one time had low fuel and that just gave me a headache as it froze the fuel line!! gRRr but other then that, it the car was a champ. I was in Omaha Nebraska for 8yrs..

 

[dsm03]

A wind chill doesn't have any effect on an engine except for how fast it will cool down to the ambient temperature. Once it cools down to the outside temp, the wind chill has no effect on a car.

..Never said it did, just stating how cold it gets!


Im sure anything below -32 is cold enough for any car!

 

[luv2rallye]

Keep the tank full to prevent moisture buildup in it.

 

[GRAVEDIGGER]

Keep the tank full to prevent moisture buildup in it.

Yes, this is a good one to remember. The lower the fuel in the tank the more condensation/moisture can build on the inside of the tank. If the tank is full the moisture has nowhere to collect.

 

[Dert]

You can also get a magnetic oilpan heater that you plug in. You just stick it on your oilpan and the magnet holds it there, it keeps your oil warm so when you cold start the oil isn't so thick and slow

 

[2GbTalonGuy]

..Never said it did, just stating how cold it gets!


Im sure anything below -32 is cold enough for any car!

Haha k, just makin sure.

 

[luv2rallye]

Or if you prefer there's a coil heater you put in a heater or main hose which keeps the coolant warm.

 

[1990AWD]

haha you Americans think your cold...come to Saskatchewan. -45 C is typical overnight; last year we went a whole month without ever going above -20C.

ultimate would be a circulating coolant heater (pumps and heats the coolant but needs hoses made up for it to work) and a oil pan heater. as far as coolant heaters, the lower the better, as in the lower rad hose or close to it. also switch to a lighter oil such as 5W30.

two things that make your car hard to start: 1. cold battery 2. cold, thick oil.
work on improving those two things.

synthetic in the tranny, t-case, and diff also makes a huge difference.

 

[Oldsid]

I don't use a block heater but I do have a "Engine hose heater". It is mounted on the lower radiator hose. All you need is two clamps and the heater. It cost around $50 here in Canada and can be installed in 30mn.
I also use synthetic gear oil for transmission, transfer case and differential. I never had any problem starting down to -40 C with this this set up for over five years.
Here is a picture of the heater taken from under the car.

 

[66ss]

def like the lower rad hose one better, easier to install/replace should they go bad.....little trick a towel over the motor really warms it up faster while pluged into the heater only of course

 

[Clinical]

I'm in Iowa and we have the same flip flopping.
hot as hell summers
cold as $@%! winters

My old talon on 93 octane started in the coldest weather.
The coldest days I'd crank it for 2-3 seconds.. stop and crank it again and it'd usually fire up instantly.

My laser though running on e85, already we've seen some 30 degree nights and it takes about 30 secs of attempts to get it started