cold weather and starts

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by tim, Jan 10, 2004.

  1. tim

    tim Guest

    this post is directed to fellow friends that live in areas where the mercury
    drops to < -20C,

    so i've been noticing it's a little tricky starting my car (temp just
    hit -40C). i've got the suggested 5W-30 oil and jumper cables in my car.
    my car is parked in a garage at night *not heated* wondering if there's
    anything else i can do to ensure my car reliably starts in this insanely
    cold weather. i was thinking of buying and storing a spare battery just in
    case my battery decides to crash and burn at the most inopportune moment.
    even though Acura's are made in Japan, i'm hoping Acura has taken into
    account the ridiculous weather we Canadians get!



    thanks.


    tim
     
    tim, Jan 10, 2004
    #1
  2. Block heater....battery blanket....

    WTF are you that the air temp is -40C? Certainly not here.

    Steve
    Ottawa
    http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/forcesofnature/windchill.html
     
    Stephen Bigelow, Jan 10, 2004
    #2
  3. tim

    tim Guest

    my bad, windchill extrapolated figures :p


    thanks for the suggestions!



    tim
     
    tim, Jan 10, 2004
    #3
  4. I don't see why a modern car with the right oil, properly working charging
    system and properly tuned motor shouldn't start within a few seconds even
    after having been left outside. I understand all the coorelations between
    cold, what it does to a battery, etc. But still.

    Also if I remember correctly from a physics class I took, wind chill does
    not affect inanimate objects such as cars, engines sitting overnight, etc.

    CaptainKrunch
     
    CaptainKrunch, Jan 10, 2004
    #4
  5. tim,
    Where do you think that expression about 'Freezing the b_lls off a brass
    monkey came from'? The snow monkeys of Northern Japan? Maybe. It was
    -27C in Edmonton the other night. No monkeys on the street.

    Just read the part in your manual about 'Starting your engine in High
    altitude / cold weather' You'll be fine, unless your battery is 5 1/2
    years old. You could pick up one of the 1 Amp battery chargers that
    mount permanently under the hood and keep you battery topped up and warm
    all night.

    Some attached garages stay surprisingly warm if the house leaks enough
    heat. :-(

    'Curly'

    =================

    --

    To REPLY: If there are a couple of underscores in my return address,
    you must remove them to reply directly . . . . . . Thanks.

    Regarding stage performances: When everyone else has finished playing,
    you should not play any notes you have left over. -
     
    'Curly Q. Links', Jan 10, 2004
    #5
  6. Cannon balls, on the deck of a ship. The "monkey" is the rack the balls
    where stored in. Cold temps, the rack contracted, and the balls fell out.
     
    Stephen Bigelow, Jan 10, 2004
    #6
  7. tim

    Qwack Guest

    Wind-chill is only an anomaly made up by weather announcers to make their
    reporting more exciting. It only affects people and skin. It has no affect
    on inanimate objects...
     
    Qwack, Jan 10, 2004
    #7
  8. tim

    Perry Guest

    I remember reading a few years ago that wind chill is calculated based on
    how quickly it removes heat, it would affect a car only if it was running.

    I can't remember where I saw it.
     
    Perry, Jan 10, 2004
    #8
  9.  
    Stephen Bigelow, Jan 10, 2004
    #9
  10. tim

    Graham W Guest

    Pull the other one!
     
    Graham W, Jan 10, 2004
    #10
  11. tim

    Tegger® Guest


    1) Keep your ignition system in top shape by replacing plugs, wires, cap
    and rotor regularly. Plugs every two years, the other parts every 5 or 6
    years.

    2 Actually, maintain your car by the book's "severe" schedule or better for
    ALL maintenance items, especially fluids and filters.

    3) Keep the gas topped up to reduce the possibility of condensation causing
    corrosion and blockages in the fuel lines and injectors.

    4) Replace the battery the minute it starts showing signs of weakening.
    This will help save your alternator, coil, igniter and other electrical
    components.

    5) Keep the battery terminals and all major grounds clean and tight. Smear
    or spray some white grease on the terminals.

    6) Get the car Rust Checked or Krowned every fall. The treatment also helps
    prevent corrosion in the electrical connectors and grounds.

    7) If it hits -40 regularly in your area, get a block heater. You need it.

    It was -30C (-20F) this morning out here.
     
    Tegger®, Jan 10, 2004
    #11
  12. tim

    Bror Jace Guest

    You guys are right about wind chill, It has no effect on air temp,
    just the speed at which things cool down. Once they hit air temp, all
    the wind in the world doesn't really matter.

    What can you do? Synthetic lubricants is an obvious one. If your car
    calls for 5W20 oil, you can use Mobil 1 0W20.

    I'm running Red Line 5W30 (not the best synthetic for cold starts) but
    still had no problems on two consecutive mornings at -15F to -10F.

    --- Bror Jace
     
    Bror Jace, Jan 10, 2004
    #12
  13. tim

    xxxxxxxx Guest

    start thickening until it reaches -35*F
    To ensure a good start with less drain on the battery ? I place a 150 watt
    light bulb in close proximity to the battery just to give it that little
    extra warming these cold nites . seems to work for me .
    `92 accord 145,700 miles (235,000klms)
     
    xxxxxxxx, Jan 11, 2004
    #13
  14. tim

    xxxxxxxx Guest

    ed/ontario
     
    xxxxxxxx, Jan 11, 2004
    #14
  15. tim

    xxxxxxxx Guest

    Nope not true .On the war ships with sails long ago the iron cannon balls
    were kept in a brass tray called a "monkey"..on deck....since iron and brass
    shrink at different rates in the cold the iron cannon balls never stuck to
    the brass "monkey"hence the term "cold enough to freeze the balls on a brass
    monkey"
    ed/ontario
    ed/ontario


    It was
     
    xxxxxxxx, Jan 11, 2004
    #15
  16. tim

    Bebop Guest

    So, there are people without skin? :)?
     
    Bebop, Jan 11, 2004
    #16
  17. I would have to agree with everything that Tegger has said here. It is a
    far cry from when I had to flame his ass for stupid crap he said several
    years ago. He has come a long way.

    CaptainKrunch
     
    CaptainKrunch, Jan 11, 2004
    #17
  18. Thanks for keeping him in line.
     
    Stephen Bigelow, Jan 11, 2004
    #18
  19. Uhh, some of them have the good sense to cover it up.

    Rgds, George Macdonald

    "Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??
     
    George Macdonald, Jan 11, 2004
    #19
  20. tim

    Frink Guest

    Timmins just hit -43.9C the other night.
     
    Frink, Jan 12, 2004
    #20
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