On 1/6/2014 8:18 PM, Califbill wrote:
"Mr. Luddite" wrote:
On 1/6/2014 2:01 PM, True North wrote:
On Monday, 6 January 2014 14:13:58 UTC-4, Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 1/6/2014 11:36 AM, Tim wrote:

10" of drifting snow and -10 below 0f. and breezy. (wind chill like -40)



Not the coldest place on the planet but it's the coldest place I know
of seeing w haven't had this type of weather in years.



No need to go anywhere...







The coldest weather I ever experienced was in Zion, IL back in 1973.

I've forgotten the actual temps but one weekend they were like what you

are experiencing now ... double digits below zero.



Someone advised me that I should start my car every couple of hours and

let it run for about 15 minutes to keep the oil from thickening and the

battery charged. Big mistake. (I had a 1969 Ford LTD with a 429 c.i.

engine).



It started and I let it run for the prescribed 15 minutes. It didn't

start again for two days. I finally removed a spark plug and the

electrode was fully encased in ice, as were the electrodes on the other

seven plugs. You would think that running for 15 minutes would have

heated everything enough to remove any residual water vapor, but I guess

not.


I have a block heater on my Highlander and now have to purchase a battery blanket.
Those two items are more than enough for our climate.
A normal winter might require 6-10 instances where I use them.
My outside plug is controlled by a switch at the top of the basement stairs.
In the cape Cod style house I built in the burbs back in the mid '70s,
the switch was right over my head in bed.
I didn't even have to open my eyes...just reach up to get the warmth flowing.
The old 77 Aspen Wagon's slant six loved me for it.


Yeah, this winter I bought one of those magnetic heaters for my diesel
powered tractor. It's only 200 watts and thermostatically controlled, so
I leave it plugged in all the time. I stuck it on the bottom of the oil
pan and it seems to help a lot. Although sluggish because the battery
was cold, it still fired right up the other day after running the glow
plug for 20 seconds. It was 5 degrees at the time. Diesels don't like cold.

I was in Steam Boat Springs the Winter of 1968. Car was in the shade, and
would not hardly turn over. Had to get a jump start. Was the 4 speed
manual tranny. The temps was about zero, and the oil was very stiff. Soon
as I put in the clutch and engine fired right up. Do you use a cold
weather additive in the diesel?


Just gonna' remind you all that if your battery is dead in the winter,
make sure it's not frozen before you put a jump to it.... No
exaggeration, if it's frozen and you add boost it could blow with the
force of a quarter stick of dynamite. I have seen parts fly 30 yards
when a frozen battery exploded. In the winter time, always stand behind
the hood or a door when applying boost to a dead battery, and when
someone turns the key...