Warming up a car?

KAAK I almost feel sorry for ya.......na not really, heck KAAK this is warm from where I came from.......hadn't notice the chill yet.....:D
 
Ever thought about stickin a Battle Mistress in the hood ,kickin back with a drink and thinkin to yourself....."self...it's time for a new truck..."? :D
 
this thread is making me want to turn the thermostat up a degree or two.

God Bless the people of Alaska
 
Long term
Buy fuel from a reputable dealer, add some 100% rubbing alcohol (same as gasline antifreeze, but cheaper.

Short Term
If the fuel is full of moisture and frozen in the line, no amount of block heating or gasoline antifreeze will get it loose.

I had to tow it to a heated garage and it started after a day or two.

The magnetic oil pan heaters are neat, but most engines are aluminum now.
If you can find a heater that fits inside the dipstick hole...good solution.

But...only if you can plug it in where you are going too. Otherwise how do you know you can get home?

Unless you just leave it run all day.


Oh and maybe a little shot of ether too
 
Put as many shoo lights. Around engine and may be fuel tank as u can. Tr 2 cover car 2 retain heat. Bring battery indoors if u can. Cover car with whatever u have 2 retain heat. Done properly this should work. Carry BM just in case
 
Steven Penner said:
Long term
Buy fuel from a reputable dealer, add some 100% rubbing alcohol (same as gasline antifreeze, but cheaper.

Short Term
If the fuel is full of moisture and frozen in the line, no amount of block heating or gasoline antifreeze will get it loose.

I had to tow it to a heated garage and it started after a day or two.

The magnetic oil pan heaters are neat, but most engines are aluminum now.
If you can find a heater that fits inside the dipstick hole...good solution.

But...only if you can plug it in where you are going too. Otherwise how do you know you can get home?

Unless you just leave it run all day.


Oh and maybe a little shot of ether too
Click to expand...

Frozen fuel!:eek::eek: Man that's cold! -97 degrees below zero... sounds like some moisture found its way in there. And I agree there is nothing you can really do to combat that, short of putting it in a heated garage.
 
Appreciate all the advice and tips. It's almost turning over, but figure I may have to wait till it warms up a bit. Got a ride to work today (again) by a co-worker. May have to wait till after New Year's to get the supplies with my schedule.

For the block heater, no plug in on the front of the condo's I live in so gotta figure that one out. Extension cord might be a pain but worth it. Will check around when I get time to find a blanket and heater/lamp and see if that will help. Getting it to a garage would be a pain, but hopefully that's a last resort.
 
If you're going a few days or more at a time without driving the car, and are leaving the battery in, stick a kill switch on it. That will eliminate all the parasitic loss, and will definitely make a difference in cold cranking power over a period of time.

Only downside would be if you have electronic data that's difficult to restore after power is broken, but that would also be an issue if removing the battery entirely.

Simple switches for the negative lead are available at parts stores for $15 or $20.

Also try to keep temperature up at start time, as mentioned above.
 
You could just leave your car running all the time? Gas is pretty cheap up there, right? All that oil?:D
 
Kind of funny, but had to help get 2 cars going today.

Tarped them up with a surplus parachute and fired up the herman nelson heater for about an hour. Worked like a charm. :D
 
I read about a trick to warm up just the battery, so it could have a better chance of turning the engine over. Attach one end of your jumper cables to the battery posts, then step back away from the car, holding the other end of the cables. Briefly touch together the clamps you are holding. That will short the battery and warm it up.
 
ColdOne said:
Large tarp and a herman nelson heater! Tarp up the front end and run the exhaust pipe from the heater under there.

Thats what I use when it warms up to -30... We are suppose to be between -40 and -50 for the next week here. :grumpy:
Click to expand...

If you cant get a Herman Nelson heater then some smaller space heaters will work also. Just be carefull where you put it specially if you know you have a fuel leak "bad idea all together". But if it will be safe to do then go for it and try old blankets on the hood aswell along with a heater of some sort. It wont be quick but it will work. Us Canadians are used to that sort of thing. When I was in my early 20's I had to try and fire up log trucks in -60 up in Northern Ontario "no fun at all". Best of luck.
 
resinguy said:
I read about a trick to warm up just the battery, so it could have a better chance of turning the engine over. Attach one end of your jumper cables to the battery posts, then step back away from the car, holding the other end of the cables. Briefly touch together the clamps you are holding. That will short the battery and warm it up.
Click to expand...

If the battery should be cracked while doing that, there is a good chance it can explode. Batteries contain hydrocholic acid and can and will produce hydrogen gas. Please be carefull.
 
resinguy said:
I read about a trick to warm up just the battery, so it could have a better chance of turning the engine over. Attach one end of your jumper cables to the battery posts, then step back away from the car, holding the other end of the cables. Briefly touch together the clamps you are holding. That will short the battery and warm it up.
Click to expand...

Haven't heard that one before. :eek:

One issue about just working on the battery is that it does nothing for the belts and other items under the hood. Replacing broken belts at cool temperatures is not a really fun passtime. :D
 
BIGBEAR said:
If the battery should be cracked while doing that, there is a good chance it can explode. Batteries contain hydrocholic acid and can and will produce hydrogen gas. Please be carefull.
Click to expand...

Yes, it would be an extreme measure. The potential for hydrogen gas is why you stand back from the car.
 
Thinking I'm going to have to put a blanket over the engine and find a heater. Worried about a possible oil leak from prior, but not sure so I really don't want to set it on fire :D

Finding a parachute and heater will be a challenge with the parking arrangement but will keep you guys updated. Hopefully this is helping others that may be in this situation. Around -16* right now, so it could be worse, but could be better too.
 
Feed it some JWB. . . If it doesn't work. . . drink everything in the tank and all of your problems will quickly fade into the background. . . :eek:


Jerry :D



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