What to do when it is cold and car won't start

What to do when it is cold and car won\'t start

I started this in jest because of this picture but it is a subject that has caused me problems in the past.

I don't normaly worry till it gets below -10F. No block heater as no electricity at home. I have three levels only two of which I have done.
1. bring battery inside to keep warm. Lots of CCA, at -55 though the oil was so thick it destroyed my starter and battery.
2. pan of coals under oil pan. Be carefull though as oil on outside warms it can drip onto coals causing flames, not good /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
3. Remove oil while car is warm, bring inside. Make sure oil is back in before starting car /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Any other simple (foolproof) solutions?

Re: What to do when it is cold and car won\'t start

Synthetic oil might help, maybe a optima battery?
Im just throwing out random ideas but could you relocated the battery to the cab or trunk, and put it inside a ice chest to protect it from the cold with a tube to vent gases?

OT: You have no electricity at home?

Re: What to do when it is cold and car won\'t start

Forgot that one. One caution there, and there is debate on this, if you put straight synthetic into an older engine you may loosen some deposits that you may not want to loosen. Sort of sealing your rings etc. I have stepped from 50/50 synthetic up to full synth over time and it seems to work. But the time I went to straight synthetic in one shot my engine started going through oil which it hadn't done before.

OT: nope, we live beyond power lines and phone lines and as of now can't get a cell signal at our house.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif I won't start a topic on the joys of drafty outhouses at -40 /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Re: What to do when it is cold and car won\'t start

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Re: What to do when it is cold and car won\'t start

how about stocking up on li batt and when it gets cold, light your light (esp incan)? just my crazy suggestion there /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

nothing to see here, move along /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/popcorn.gif

Re: What to do when it is cold and car won\'t start

[ QUOTE ]
DrJ said:
Get a small generator and use it to power a block heater?

[/ QUOTE ]
I think it would be more efficient to use fuel to provide heat directly. Though the block heater is in the right location.

No comments on the picture? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Re: What to do when it is cold and car won\'t start

Back in the mid 70's, I had a Corvair, that my father had rebuilt from the ground up. He was a member of CORSA. He had built the engine so tight that I couldn't start it one cold winter afternoon at work. I had to walk about a mile to the nearest farmhouse, and called Dad. He brought me some Mobil I 10w30 oil and a filter, and I changed the oil. Put jumper cables on it and it started right up.

I've used Mobil I ever since. One advantage that you never here about with Mobil I; your battery and starter last longer if you live in a cold climate. My current car is on it's seventh winter on the original battery.
oldgrandpajack

PS: My previous car was purchased at an auction and had 78,000 miles on it. I changed the oil and filter, using Mobil I, as soon as I got it home. Changed the oil and filter every 7,000 miles. It only used about 1/2 quart every 7,000 miles. I sold it at 211,000 miles and it still only used 1/2 quart every 7,000 miles.

Re: What to do when it is cold and car won\'t start

I would definately run a synthetic blend if it's working o.k. Might even try a dipstick heater. It's an element the replaces your dipstick and warms your oil. Would have to use a generator to power it though. This can also be used with other methods such as block heaters.

Re: What to do when it is cold and car won\'t start

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Re: What to do when it is cold and car won\'t start

Realistic answer: Synthetic oil will help (been using it on every car I've ever owned with none of the seal/deposit problems mentioned by others).

Better answer: Stop using internal combustion and switch to a Li-ion battery electric car. But first you'll have to build one, unfortunately. Thought it doesn't get as cold here as it does there, I can safely "start" my EV and smoke the tires instantly. NO warm-up, baby! There's no crankcase oil or transmission oil to thicken.

(Hey, I try not to do this every time, but we're just having fun here, right?)

Re: What to do when it is cold and car won\'t start

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Re: What to do when it is cold and car won\'t start

i am sold on the synthetics. not sure about a detrimental effects on older engines.

i am a former master mechanic, and have a couple of interesting experiences.

the first was watching several cars pick up over 100 rpm (presumably due to a decrease in friction) after adding mobil 1 synthetics. (later, compression testing showed no change, so i doubt that there were deposits freed from the rings/valves/seats that could cause diminished compression)

the second was amazing: had a friend that purchased a mildly used olds omega with a 2.5l 4 cylinder. he immediately started using mobil1, and changed the oil and filter twice a year.

at 224,000 miles, he developed an oil leak from the valve cover gasket (i have noticed that synthetics tend to exaggerate leaks). when i pulled the valve cover, it was as clean as brand new. NO deposits. no gunk.

the engine burned no oil, and ran as quietly as when new.

he retired the car due to michigan cancer (rust), and still has the engine sitting in a wagon in his garage. it has just under 280,000 miles on it. i would love to tear it down and get a look at the cylinder walls/valves/seats/rings/bearings.

i use only synthetic in my car.

Bob

Re: What to do when it is cold and car won\'t start

My solution was to move to Hawaii. It got down to a bone chilling 65° last night. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Re: What to do when it is cold and car won\'t start

I don't know about the oil, but I had a 1983 honda accord that I drove in Chicago through most of the early 90's. It was not in tip top shape when I bought it, but it was OK. At one point I was finally working a "real"job one winter and in order to make sure my car started I had to take the battery inside with me up to my "cube" /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif Chicago usually has 2 or 3 REALLY cold snaps in the winter where the temps, not including wind chill, will be 30 or 40 BELOW zero. It doesn't last very long but it's murder on old cars and batteries. I got a lot of funny looks from the suits in the elevator at work carrying up my car battery.. But at the end of the day my car started! Which is more than can be said for even some of the BMW's and Lexun...

That same car met it's end in November of 1994 by fire. Important safety tip, if you're having an electrical fire you probably can't get it put out without disconnecting the battery... It cost me over $600 to get it rewired enough to trade it in on a new car (and the same one I'm still driving) for which I got $300 for it /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Re: What to do when it is cold and car won\'t start

Build an attached garage, at least it would be a bit warmer and keep the house warmer since it would add an air space between the outside and your house.

But other then that the charcoal works pretty well. We used to do that in Superior all the time. Make sure you note where the fuel lines are BEFORE you try this at home. My uncle (UP of MI) swears by the charcoal thing. He has a special saucer & lid with a nice long handle made up.

If I didn't have an attached garage I would look in to the Espar heaters, they are about the size of a Mason jar and use gas or diesel from the tank to heat the coolant. They can be preset to specific times or temps, but they start about $800 and the extra controls are about $300 more, they can even turn on the cabin fan to heat the auto.

http://www.espar.com/htm/Specs/water/wterheat.htm

Re: What to do when it is cold and car won\'t start

unless the synthetic oil is a thinner weight you'll have the same problem, as i cursed my $10/QT multisynthetic changing out my starter one winter!!...

i did see a space age type thermal blanket sold thru JC W years ago which ya placed on the engine to help hold in the heat...but with no power to run an electric blanket, electic heater or block heater sounds like ya have to get up twice during the night to run the engine for 10 minutes or so... there are some 80 watt magnetic oil block heaters but ya would have to figure if your battery could power it during the nite and still start the engine in the morning..

good luck, rob

Re: What to do when it is cold and car won\'t start

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Re: What to do when it is cold and car won\'t start

I heard from a lube specialist at avlube.com, who also owns a Tundra, that Mobil 1 in 0w30,5w30,10w30 were the exact same formula. They just have it in the different bottles so the consumer would not be confused. Not sure if that is the case now.

Re: What to do when it is cold and car won\'t start

I would:

switch to a thin synthetic, thinnest you can get away with
buy a REALLY good battery
buy a high torque starter like street rods use

Re: What to do when it is cold and car won\'t start

Synthetic oil doesn't change viscosity with temperature nearly as much as regular refined oil. If you remember the old Mobil One commercials, they were accurate. The oil will still pour at 40 F. below zero. Probably even colder.

Synthetic oil was invented for the army to use in vehicles in Alaska.

I used Mobil One in my 72 Cutlass. I changed the oil once a year, and could have probably gone much longer. The engine stays clean because the varnish etc. that coats engines apparently comes from the refined oil. I finally junked it after 30 years, and 200,000 miles because of body rust, but the engine was like new. The last battery I replaced in it had lasted 11 years. The engine never leaked or burned oil. Never had the heads off either.

Now I let Jiffy Lube change the oil in my modern tin-can automobile, and I just use the regular stuff.