Extreme Cold Weather Prep for Modern Cars
Discussion
jinkster said:
What prep do you take for your car in extreme cold temperatures for a modern car? Fuel additive? Block Heaters?
I've dealt with diesel fleets based in Alaska where it gets quite cold.Oil viscosity needs to be low otherwise it simply won't flow. 0W30 is typical.
Coolant needs to be roughly 67% ethylene glycol for -40.
Diesels need a fuel additive.
For serious cold you also need battery blankets and sump heaters in addition to a standard block heater.
Diesels are typically never shut off in the cold of Alaska - they run 24/7, they will be brought inside for oil changes and only shut down for the period where oil is being removed and refilled.
Britain however doesn't get that cold. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for coolant concentration and oil viscosity, use neat screenwash and you should be fine, provided your tyres are capable of working in snow.
GavinPearson said:
I've dealt with diesel fleets based in Alaska where it gets quite cold.
Oil viscosity needs to be low otherwise it simply won't flow. 0W30 is typical.
Coolant needs to be roughly 67% ethylene glycol for -40.
Diesels need a fuel additive.
For serious cold you also need battery blankets and sump heaters in addition to a standard block heater.
Diesels are typically never shut off in the cold of Alaska - they run 24/7, they will be brought inside for oil changes and only shut down for the period where oil is being removed and refilled.
Britain however doesn't get that cold. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for coolant concentration and oil viscosity, use neat screenwash and you should be fine, provided your tyres are capable of working in snow.
Light duty on highway diesels? Or big oleOil viscosity needs to be low otherwise it simply won't flow. 0W30 is typical.
Coolant needs to be roughly 67% ethylene glycol for -40.
Diesels need a fuel additive.
For serious cold you also need battery blankets and sump heaters in addition to a standard block heater.
Diesels are typically never shut off in the cold of Alaska - they run 24/7, they will be brought inside for oil changes and only shut down for the period where oil is being removed and refilled.
Britain however doesn't get that cold. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for coolant concentration and oil viscosity, use neat screenwash and you should be fine, provided your tyres are capable of working in snow.
Mining diesels? Spent some time in the Rockies last year cold testing at -20c, I'm not surprised they leave them running 24/7. Trying to get a 2800hp Diesel engine started in that weather is no fun!
I used a sump heater on my TVR, although that wasn't really temperature related - it was just to minimise cold wear in the Speed Six engine.
Turned it on an hour before going out and I had 60 degree oil on startup, dropped slightly as it circulated round the cold engine but still got back up to temperature a lot quicker than 'standard'.
Don't need it now so much as the car is in Australia...
Turned it on an hour before going out and I had 60 degree oil on startup, dropped slightly as it circulated round the cold engine but still got back up to temperature a lot quicker than 'standard'.
Don't need it now so much as the car is in Australia...
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