Tradewind36
US Veteran
I would recommend an incandescent bulb, at least 60 watt. I used to hang one inside my boat on chilly nights in the winter.
Car Batteries and sub-0 temps
- Thread starter BAM-BAM
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JcMack
Member
Anybody have any luck with those compact, carry with you, battery jump starters that go for $60-$100?
Tinhack
Member
It's no legend. I did it all the time when I lived on the North Coast of Ohio. I used a shop drop light whenever the temps were expected to go sub-zero over night. The car was easy to start and warmed up quicker. Essential if you didn't have garage space.
Man, I sure don't miss those days!
Man, I sure don't miss those days!
Back in the '70s I would use a 75W bulb under the hood when things got really cold. That was with a six cylinder Datsun with dual carbs which was not a good cold weather setup. Thinner oil in cold weather helped then as well. These days with fuel injection and all the electronics as well as thinner oil as the norm, there should not be an issue unless your battery is on the edge. If so, a bulb may help. If it gets "that" cold in western PA, it may be a good day to stay home. (I'm across the state from you north of Harrisburg.)
Funny, I was just thinking back on driving, past and present. These days we have so few problems in comparison to what our parents put up with. Flat tires, tune-ups, getting stuck, not able to start, worn out at 100K miles, the list goes on.... We got it pretty good now.
Funny, I was just thinking back on driving, past and present. These days we have so few problems in comparison to what our parents put up with. Flat tires, tune-ups, getting stuck, not able to start, worn out at 100K miles, the list goes on.... We got it pretty good now.
Very good luck with them. I use them as portable power to run a portable calibrator and have jumped several rigs with them.
star1
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light under hood
I remember those days.... my Dad would put a heat lamp under the intake manifold of his slant 6 dodge to warm up the incoming air and it did make a big difference on those real cold days. Heck I remember when I went to college with my '59 MGA , that thing didn't like cold weather at all...bought a alcohol heater that fit under the oil pan ...still didn't like to start on those cold days
I remember those days.... my Dad would put a heat lamp under the intake manifold of his slant 6 dodge to warm up the incoming air and it did make a big difference on those real cold days. Heck I remember when I went to college with my '59 MGA , that thing didn't like cold weather at all...bought a alcohol heater that fit under the oil pan ...still didn't like to start on those cold days
Almost every car or truck I've owned in the last 50 years has had a block heater. They are installed by draining the coolant and knocking out one of the frost plugs from the block. The elements are around 1500 watts iirc.
JcMack I have a portable power pac andhave used it a couple of times. I originally bought it to carry in the boat as a backup
JcMack I have a portable power pac andhave used it a couple of times. I originally bought it to carry in the boat as a backup
Maddog 521
Member
I'm glad I don't have to deal with sub-zero weather anymore. After reading ya'll posts I'm happy to be in Texas. Although we're supposed to be in the 20's this weekend. Be safe out there.
Inusuit
Member
When I was growing up on the ranch, we had no garage for any of the vehicles. My dad would put a heat lamp, not just a bulb, under the hood and cover the outside with a tarp. Obviously didn't get the heat lamp close to anything that would melt. Wasn't much plastic under the hood of a 1953 two ton stock truck.
Had a friend in North Dakota. All his vehicles had the heaters that warmed the coolant (worked best of plugged in to a warm engine). Had the male end poking out through the grill. Said when he retired, he was going to drive south until someone asked "What's that thing sticking out of your grill?" Then he'd look for a place to buy.
Had a friend in North Dakota. All his vehicles had the heaters that warmed the coolant (worked best of plugged in to a warm engine). Had the male end poking out through the grill. Said when he retired, he was going to drive south until someone asked "What's that thing sticking out of your grill?" Then he'd look for a place to buy.
Those plugs hanging out of the grill is a message from God that it's too cold to live there.
Ah, yes. Ya just gotta love those sub-zero temperatures.
My ol' pickup spends its life outdoors every night. Just recently put in a new battery and keep the truck plugged in all the time during the winter.
Like they say, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." In this case, it sure beats finding that you've got a dead battery every morning.
My ol' pickup spends its life outdoors every night. Just recently put in a new battery and keep the truck plugged in all the time during the winter.
Like they say, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." In this case, it sure beats finding that you've got a dead battery every morning.
Qc Pistolero
Member
As I read this,it is 0*F outside and the wind is blowing like it wants to kill all fire in hell!This is normal weather up here at this time of the year(Montreal,Qc) and we are set for another 3 months like that(some days,in the 30s while the days after in minus 30s!).
I remember in the early 60s,my father opening up the hood of his V8 engined Ford or GM and lowering a 100W lightbulb low alongside the engine.Used to help the starting up of the engine the morning after.
But nowadays,I'd think twice before doing it;them 100W lightbulbs emit quite a good amount of heat and today's engines are all cladded with plastic...try to explain your insurance company that the fire was accidental!!!A good block heater is the way to go!
Qc
I remember in the early 60s,my father opening up the hood of his V8 engined Ford or GM and lowering a 100W lightbulb low alongside the engine.Used to help the starting up of the engine the morning after.
But nowadays,I'd think twice before doing it;them 100W lightbulbs emit quite a good amount of heat and today's engines are all cladded with plastic...try to explain your insurance company that the fire was accidental!!!A good block heater is the way to go!
Qc
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dougb1946
Member
Heavy duty alternator, heavy duty battery (biggest that will fit), light oil, and a tune up. That and a garage attached to the house/ Summer can be harder on a battery than winter.
As a few others have posted I use a battery maintainer. I have a Vette that sits in the garage from the end of October until around May. Any one who's owned a Vette knows how much of a PITA it is to remove a Corvette battery.
This will be my 4th or 5th year and it's not failed me yet. I picked mine up from NAPA Auto Parts for less then $30 (they may have increased). They are very nice and most have a wire connector so you only have to unplug the wire leading to the battery.
Good Luck and it's getting cold here also !!
Chas
This will be my 4th or 5th year and it's not failed me yet. I picked mine up from NAPA Auto Parts for less then $30 (they may have increased). They are very nice and most have a wire connector so you only have to unplug the wire leading to the battery.
Good Luck and it's getting cold here also !!
Chas
Fishslayer
US Veteran, Absent Comrade
A battery that sits idle loses a certain percetage of charge daily. When it gets low enough it's more prone to freezing & sulphate.
In the 196s my father used a 100 watt light bulb on a drop cord right next to the carburetor, in rural Connecticut, with no garage. It helped. I came down on orders for Alaska and once up there had a coolant heater installed. It's installed low in the coolant system so the warmed water percolates upwards, heating everything as it rises. When it cools down, it settles down again to be re-heated. It worked fine and I go one for him. He said it worked much better than the light bulb
brigeton
Member
As you can see most of these stories are from the old days with carburetors. Newer vehicles with fuel injection don't need to turn over much before they start. As long as your battery is in good condition it won't be a problem. I just had to buy a new battery for my ATV yesterday cause it wouldn't turn over, the temp was in the single digits. I did get it started by charging the battery for a bit but I knew it was time for a new one.
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