Cold Mornings

[flashlight]

Is there anything that can be done to make starting the car easier when it is really cold outside? I know many of you would suggest putting the car in the garage but at the moment I don't have that kind of room. So that idea is out the window.

[Crvett69]

might try getting a block heater to keep engine warm. they make various types, some are magnetic and go on the oil pan, some you put in the heater or radiator hoses. think there is even one that takes the place of the dipstick. just need to run a extension cord to where car is

[RossT]

My first geo, a 91, came with a factory engine heater. It's not the best setup, but it does help. It is a heating element that is enlosed on 3 sides. It is mounted on the TB side of the engine between cylinder #1 and #2. The element heat up and heat is transfered in the area of the head gasket.

It is such an easy thing to isntall that I went the junyard and pulled a used one for my next metro, a 93.

Having said all of that, the geo really is a good cold weather starter. I live in ND and both of my metros fire up rather quickly. I get a nice fast idle for a short time to aid driveability.

I only plug mine in when it gets to about -10 F.

My other cars have the frost plug type heaters and they work better. Wolverine make a nice oil heater that sticks to the bottom of the oil pan.

Make sure you are using 5w30 oil or even 0w30.

[DOCTORBILL]

Quite often just keeping the Battery warm is what is needed !

Any battery produces the same voltage warm or cold - but not current.

The current (amps) that a battery puts out is directly related to the rate of
diffusion of the ions inside the battery.

Temperature is directly related to how fast atoms, molecules and ions are flying
about inside the solution (sometimes a gel) within a battery

Thus the rate of diffusion is related to the temperature.

When cold, the ions diffuse more slowly. They take longer to get to the
electrode where the chemical Oxidation/Reduction is occurring and producing
voltage and current.

If you put a battery heater plate underneath the battery, you'll get a really good
startup in the morning! Really spins the starter fast!

The only problem with the battery heaters - often made of Aluminum - are that
they are eaten to pieces by Battery Acid - which gets everywhere....

Liberal doses of Bicarbonate of Soda powder will keep the acid at bay, but you
have to keep adding new Bicarb often!

Hey Flashlight - I can barely walk around the crap in my Garage!
I think the crap owns me instead of the other way around.....

DoctorBill

PS - If some really cold morning your battery hardly turns the engine over, take a whole
kettle of boiling hot water out to the car and slowly pour it over the Battery to warm
it up. That has saved my Butt many's the time....

....and it helps wash away the acid that has accumulated !

[ammcf1]

I live in CO and it's starting to get really cold lately. I have recently put a plain old, plastic encased space heater underneath the engine compartment on the ground, facing up. It's the kind that has a heating element and a small fan inside to blow the warm air out. I just plug it in and leave it overnight. Doesn't use too much energy and the hood keeps the heat trapped inside the engine compartment - starts right up in the morning!