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From: gvcormack@watdaisy.UUCP (Gordon V. Cormack)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Cars in Very Cold Weather
Message-ID: <6871@watdaisy.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 22-Jan-85 15:52:41 EST
Article-I.D.: watdaisy.6871
Posted: Tue Jan 22 15:52:41 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 23-Jan-85 05:11:02 EST
References: <1604@pur-phy.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 42

Cars don't like cold weather much, but they are still usable to
-40 (C or F).  I have lived with a car on the Canadian prairies for
a number of years and have a couple of suggestions.

The main problem is to get a car to start.  Once it is running there
isn't that much problem, though the engine may hesitate and stall
because the intake manifold is so cold that the gas doesn't stay
vaporized.

To make a car start, three ingredients are useful:  thin oil, a
good battery, and heat.  Almost all cars have electric engine heaters
that pretty well guarantee that the car will start.  If there is
no electricity nearby, these don't help too much.  Catalytic heaters
that use gasoline from the tank have been made, but are not common.

Even without heat, a car should be able to start.  Ordinary 10-40
oil turns to butter at these temperatures and it is nearly impossible
to start a car with this oil.  5-30 is much better, and the synthetic
oils are much better, regardless of grade, as they do not solidify.

Buy the biggest battery you can find.  First, a battery only puts out
about 10 per cent of its real capacity at -40. Second, they engine
is VERY stiff.  A lifetime guaranteed size 27 battery is less than
$100 at Canadian Tire.

The correct starting procedure depends on the personality of the car,
but generally speaking the thing you want to do is avoid flooding
the engine.  For cars with automatic chokes, push the pedal to the
floor and release.  Don't pump several times.  Crank the engine.
If the car doesn't kick in a few seconds, depress the pedal slightly
and release.  Often the car starts when you release the pedal.
Continue to crank while playing with the pedal slightly.
If the battery winds down, wait a few seconds and try again.  Often
the warmth generated inside the battery is enough to give it some
extra pep on a second try.

It probably goes without saying, but make sure your car is well tuned
and in good working order.             

Better still, move to a warmer climate like I did.

Gordon V. Cormack  gvcormack@watdaisy.uucp gvcormack%watdaisy@waterloo.csnet