Extreme cold weather driving and maintenance - advice needed

[Nostril Cheese]

I've been thinking about driving to my in-laws place for the holidays, Portland, OR to Northern Ontario, Canada. Usually we fly, but my wife's father left us a bunch of wood and metalworking tools. I'm not real crazy on dealing with airports round the holidays.

My Trooper is in good shape, 4wd works fine. I plan on getting winter tires installed. Fresh anti-freeze and oil, etc.. However I'm a bit concerned with starting it in -30 degree weather. I've heard of block heaters that replace the dipstick, but we may be in an area where I wouldnt have reliable access to a 110v source.

I've also heard of battery blankets being essential to driving in such extremes. Can anyone give me any real world advice here?

Thanks.

[908/930]

How far north in Ontario are you talking about?

Is your battery in good shape? If it is you should be fine.

[TimT]

Get a good fresh battery... and check that the is alternator strong...

Jumper Cables!! have some

or a fresh charged jump pack...

[ckelly78z]

On my diesel truck in sub zero temps, I plug it into 110 and the fuel heater works well. that works great at home, but after sitting for 9 hours in -30 degree windchill, the only thing to get it started is a shot of starting fluid in conjunction with the glow plugs. Doing this compromises the oil in the engine, but a small shot of either won't hurt that bad as long as you shorten the oil change period to compensate.

I realize that you have a gas motor, but part of the problem is when the fuel gets cold the flash point is almost non-exsistant, so maybe a warm can of starting fluid might help.

[ckelly78z]

It also doesn't hurt to bring the battery in the house with you overnight to keep it warm and fully charged.

[imcarthur]

Afaik - block heaters were installed in other areas of an engine. There were always knockouts in NA engines for them. The coldest temps that I ever tried to start a car was in Timmins, Ontario at -40. My Subie (at the time) started but the gear shift wouldn't move for 10 minutes & the springs in the seats were frozen etc etc. I have also tried a light bulb near the battery to maintain some heat. I always took a parka, warm boots, gloves, toque, a sleeping bag & a candle for survival in the north in case of break down because the roads can get awful lonely in the winter.

I don't go that far north in the winter anymore . . .

Ian

[gshase]

If the battery is over 2.5 years get a new one.

[Nostril Cheese]

Thats where I'm headed, Timmins. Getting to the freeze plugs on this motor would be a pain.

I should only worry about the battery? Perhaps switch to a winter oil?

[Oh Haha]

+1 on checking or replacing the battery.

We had morning temps -0 F last winter in Michigan. The battery on my Suquinox is about 2 years old and is rated at 700 CCA and 875 CA at 32 degrees. I had no problems at all even on the coldest mornings.

Also, you may want to consider changing the oil to a lighter weight, depending on what you have in there now.

[Iciclehead]

Hmmm. I live here. If your battery is in good condition (get it checked) then it will be fine.

Any vehicle, no matter what condition will risk not starting below about -25c (known in old system Fahrenheit as -13F). Block heaters are great, but I have started many a vehicle, many a time at -30c or lower and while not a joy, it is generally OK in a well maintained, fuel injected vehicle. Old carburetors were a challenge....especially SU's.

To be honest, the critical items are just good maintenance and if you can, switch to synthetic oil. The pour points of Mobil 1 are a lot lower and make a big difference.

I have tried them all, battery blankets, block heaters and so forth....all of them help somewhat, but never brought a battery inside with me...ever.

Dennis

[Bill Douglas]

I'd reconsider flying. Forget the old tools and stuff. Stay alive.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Go in summer.

No way in hell I'd EVER go to a place that cold! Brrrr! +30° F is bad enough! Can't even imagine -30° F!

[908/930]

And a new set of wiper blades, and lots of windshield washer fluid, make sure there is no water in there.

[TimT]

It also doesn't hurt to bring the battery in the house with you overnight to keep it warm and fully charged.

This... or the bring or have a spare battery available...

I once was victim to a frozen battery at around -25F (In central Vermont)

II have block heaters on my F250PSD and my Subie WRX.... its nice to have heat almost instantly, as opposed to waiting 10-15 minutes for the system to produce heat..

[DonDavis]

For parking with electrical access...
I remember seeing a heater placed inline with the engine coolant system with a built-in recirc pump. Leave the vehicle heater set to "Hi", the heater element warms the water and the small recirc pump just maintains coolant motion, at a moderate pace, and heated water is circulated throughout the entire coolant system.

In the morning, disconnect the power cables and stow away.
Engine starts immediately with warm air blowing from the vents.

[varmint]

Park so that the engine faces the dawn.
Put cardboard in front of the radiator.
If you're going to be somewhere for less than twenty minutes just leave it running.
Always let it warm up before taking off.
Keep the gas tank full. Look for fuel line anti freeze.
Keep a can of wd40 handy to spray on the door locks in case they freeze up.

Bring good sunglasses. When the sun is up that far north it is blinding.

[recycled sixtie]

Don't forget to carry a few containers of gas line antifreeze. Gas in Canada is supposed to have additives to prevent moisture in gas from freezing but the only time I have broken down is when my gas line froze. Gas line antifreeze is cheap and comes in small containers. Throw in a the contents of a small container in each full gas tank when temps are expected to be cold.

Preferably travel in daylight hours in case you have trouble.
Synthetic oil is better particularly in winter.
A block heater is ideal but not essential.
If you have concerns about car not starting while sitting overnight then run it about every 4 hours for about 15-20 minutes.
Engine should be in good tune.
Battery charger should be handy.
Jumper cables are a must.
Snow tires recommended.
Carry a small small shovel.
Blankets, sleeping bags for emergencies.
Never let the gas guage go below a half. Refuel often.

I am with you. I would rather drive a long trip than go through the airports especially during holiday season.

Cheers, Guy

[imcarthur]

Originally Posted by varmint

Keep the gas tank full. Look for fuel line anti freeze.
Keep a can of wd40 handy to spray on the door locks in case they freeze up.

Yes. Yes. And yes. Although the locks only freeze if you wash your car in those temps.

Ian

[varmint]

https://rdl.train.army.mil/catalog-ws/view/100.ATSC/429CD38E-C67E-475A-B658-79A52B9A6B11-1376413064167/tm4_33x31.pdf


Some light reading for the truly obsessive.

[varmint]

P.s.

The old timers deal with true negative 30-40 temps by just staying home. If you are caught in those conditions find a motel and wait it out.