Starting your car in sub zero temps - revisited
- Thread starter Freebeer187
- Start date
I'm going to 2nd everything that was said in the thread a couple months ago. On a gas engine, literally all you should need is a good battery with 700+ CCA, even in the coldest of Chicago mornings. My busted ass old 90 Grand Prix with a battery that's a couple years old even started this morning. Granted, it was a little groggy at first and the cranking sounded labored, but that doesn't necessarily mean there's a problem. Unless the battery and engine are being kept warm until the car is started, it's not going to sound like it's starting in the middle of summer, even on the newest cars with the smallest engines with the best battery.
My 99 explorer has some chain rattle on start, but has started even while basically a Popsicle with a new battery.
The Cooper has serious display issues until the cabin is warm (Read-Lag on the climate control and tach displays), but still starts as near-instantly as it does in summer honestly. Granted its a boosted, low-displacement, fairly new car.
Do you have an old car with a carb or something?
As long as your car is fuel injected and in good mechanical shape you should be fine.
Filling up your gas tank is a good idea, and if it will make you feel better you can put a bottle of heat in there.
But maintenance is probably the biggest issue. Make sure your fuel filter is new, you have a good battery with good good non corroded connections, a clean air filter, and good sensors and you should be good to go.
If you want you can put synthetic oil in your car. It doesn't get as thick in cold weather and your motor will turn over a little easier, but when it's cold any car takes a little longer cranking. Like I said, if it's fuel injected it will be fine as long as there is no water in the gas and everything is in good mechanical shape.
As long as your car is fuel injected and in good mechanical shape you should be fine.
Filling up your gas tank is a good idea, and if it will make you feel better you can put a bottle of heat in there.
But maintenance is probably the biggest issue. Make sure your fuel filter is new, you have a good battery with good good non corroded connections, a clean air filter, and good sensors and you should be good to go.
If you want you can put synthetic oil in your car. It doesn't get as thick in cold weather and your motor will turn over a little easier, but when it's cold any car takes a little longer cranking. Like I said, if it's fuel injected it will be fine as long as there is no water in the gas and everything is in good mechanical shape.
Sold my 99 Jeep Grand Cherokee in July, but for the 4 winter I had it, including last year which was brutal, it was kept outside and never had any issues starting. I remember one day it was -18 without the windchill and that thing started right up. I am missing that jeep right now.
I still have my 99 JGC, it start right up every morning.
Also they recommend to have at least half a tank of fuel. So that you tank don't create too much condensation inside and will lead to water in the system or frozen lines. I don't know if this is true but it makes sense. Lol
along with a good battery i will add good connections at the battery and starter as well as good ground connections. those wimpy 10ga grounds GM used in the mid 90s are the bottle neck. i used to take old 4ga car amplifier wire and do a 1 foot section from the battery negative to a freshly clean, bare metal chassis ground. everything on the car works better- windows are faster, defrost is better, lights are brighter and dont dim at idle. literally no drawbacks and if you have extra amp wire it is free
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