Upper midwest DUers: How do you get your cars started in this cold?

[brentspeak]

The news is reporting temps of -25 deg F in Minnesota, -35 deg in N.D. C-c-c-c-oollldd!!

[sarge43]

1. Use synthetic oil for one thing.

It was developed for military vehicles in arctic conditions.

[ogneopasno]

2. We plug our engine blocks in. Makes a huge difference.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. Mine usually starts without much complaint.

But if it's going to be colder than about -10 I plug it in.

[krispos42]

4. Insert key into ignition

Turn until car starts.

Set HVAC controls to maximum heat, recirculate, lowest fan speed.

Lock car with spare key.

Go back inside for 15 minutes.

Come back outside.

Unlock car with spare key, climb in, and drive away!

:-)


And when you change your anti-freeze, mix two gallons of Prestone to one gallon of water. That'll protect you down to -80 or so.

And for god's sake, use synthenic motor oil!

[lizerdbits]

5. My uncle used a hair dryer to warm it up so it would start

This was in January 1989 in MT and I don't recall what the vehicle was, but the temp was about -40 ish.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. That -25 is just wind chill, which doesn't affect cars.

Wind chill is just the apparent temperature felt on exposed skin. The actual temperature around here was only -8 this morning, which is kind of cold but not so bad that I actually had to wear a hat. And the car started without a hiccup.

[TZ]

10. Do you have blood or icewater in your veins?

ONLY -8?! and not bad enough to wear a hat? I was fricking dying even bundled up last week when it was 12 above here...You Minnesotans are definitely a different breed...:crazy:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

11. I'm from here. We develop insulation, like walruses.

If it gets really cold I might wear a hat. I haven't gotten around to zipping the lining into my jacket yet, but if it gets too windy I might have to do that.

[Blue_In_AK]

7. We're not upper midwest

but it's been teens below here sans windchill. We plug our cars in. Block heaters.

[Common Sense Party]

8. I had a plug-in for the company car when I was in MN

Never had to use it.

Had a old VW Bug when I was a punk teenager. That beast would start up every time in cold Iowa winters. My Dad's Jeep wounldn't start even when he plugged it in all night.

[LaraMN]

9. We don't usually have a problem.

We park our vehicles in our garage, but even when we didn't have one they usually started fine.