Warming up your car (Fairbanks, Hoonah: home, motel, travel)

[PJ45]

How lond does it take to warm up your car during the winter?

[User 2]

If you have the right car, you don't have to 'warm up your car' most of the time.

Now in Fairbanks, you might not want to let your car cool down if it's 40 or more below zero.

Lot's of variables in between.

Plugging your car in is better than 'warming it up', but plugging them in creates more coal smoke to add to the ice fog trapped by frequent inversions.

Best thing is to get a car that operates without having to be plugged in or warmed up all the time.
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[Metlakatla]

A few minutes at most.

[ASpilot2be]

Just enough time to drive to the store

[Arcticthaw]

Originally Posted by PJ45

How lond does it take to warm up your car during the winter?

Depends on the outside tempatre and if we are talking creature comfort or warm enough for the mechanical parts. Down to about -10 deg F or so one can start the car and go. -10 and colder one really needs to let the engine and transmission warm up for a few minutes, like 5 to 15. This is where creature comfort comes into play along with saftey. The windshield needs to bee clear of fog and ice. If the interior of the vehicle is fairly cold and one or more persons are breathing inside the moisture from exhaled breath will fog and ice up the windows. Tempatures like -30 and colder one starts to worry about mechanical failures. As an example if there is a manual transmission with gear oil that is rated at SAE 75-90 (winter weight gear lube) well this stuff doesn't move very well, think molases from the fridge but thicker. Without supplemental heat on the transmission to keep the fluid a bit warmer one will have a very difficult time to move the gearshift to nuetral or if it is nuetral just to get the fluid moving by slowly letting the clutch partway out and then back in until the fluid moves enough to allow the gears to turn. Hopefully you haven't burned out the clutch during this manuever.

Letting the engine warm to tempature to wam the cab of the vehicle also reduces possible wear and tear on the apoulstry and mechanical componets in the cab.

Bottom line is below -10 I let mine run 10 minutes, and below -20 I let her run 15. Yes it kills the gas miliage, but that is not as important as keeping warm and safe.

[Macanudo]

The other alternate is to get an autostart installed. This starts the car every X minutes when the temp gets below Y degrees. Plus, you can remotely start your car (depending on the model of autostart you have) from 30-60 feet away. It's awfully nice to walk out to a warm car.

We had these installed on both our Subaru and Honda. Loved them.

[Arcticthaw]

Originally Posted by Macanudo

The other alternate is to get an autostart installed. This starts the car every X minutes when the temp gets below Y degrees. Plus, you can remotely start your car (depending on the model of autostart you have) from 30-60 feet away. It's awfully nice to walk out to a warm car.

We had these installed on both our Subaru and Honda. Loved them.

The new autostarts work from close to a mile away. the two way ones tell you when the car is running. I have enjoyed the one in my truck since it was new. Works really nice for those of us that have improtant things in the garage like toys and such.

These would work great in the hot states too just turn the AC on, then when you start that long walk to the car hit the button and by the time your at the car its a balmy 75 inside.

[southeasttexas]

30 and 40 below? Now thats just insane! Here in SETX, you don't even need a heater in your car or home for that matter, some will say. Still, A/C is a must.... Last week, temps here were about 80....

[DannyL]

in Juneau you don't need a block heater, unless you have a diesel, then they are highly recommended.
winter nights here can get very cold, not like the interier, but sometimes in the 0 to -10 range during the winter.

[Xa'at]

Originally Posted by DannyL

in Juneau you don't need a block heater, unless you have a diesel, then they are highly recommended.
winter nights here can get very cold, not like the interier, but sometimes in the 0 to -10 range during the winter.

But you still have to dig it out!

...

Originally Posted by National Weather Service

HEAVY SNOW WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO MIDNIGHT AST TONIGHT
UNTIL 12:00PM AST
Urgent - Winter Weather Message National Weather Service Juneau AK 445 AM AST Sun Jan 13 2008



Eastern Chichagof Island- Juneau Borough And Northern Admiralty Island- Including The Cities Of...Hoonah...Juneau

...Heavy Snow Warning In Effect From Noon Today To Midnight AST Tonight...

The National Weather Service In Juneau Has Issued A Heavy Snow Warning...Which Is In Effect From Noon Today To Midnight AST Tonight. The Winter Storm Watch Is No Longer In Effect.

Snow Will Develop Late This Morning And Become Heavy At Times This Afternoon And Evening. Snowfall Rates May Reach 2 Inches Per Hour Late This Afternoon And Visibility Will Be Reduced To A Half Mile Or Less. Total Snow Accumulation Through Tonight Will Be 6 To 12 Inches. In Addition...It Will Become Locally Windy With Northeast Wind Increasing To 30 Mph Out Of Taku Inlet And In Downtown Juneau. Blowing And Drifting Snow May Further Limit Visibility In The Those Areas.

A Warning Means That Heavy Snow Is Already Occurring Or Imminent. Heavy Snow Could Pose A Threat To Life And Property.

Motorists Should Be Prepared For Winter Driving Conditions. All Travel Should Be Done With Extreme Caution.

Please Stay Tuned To Noaa Weather Radio Or Your Favorite Local Weather News Source For Updates On This Winter Storm.

This Statement Will Be Updated By Noon AST Today Or Sooner If Conditions Warrant.

Can't wait for tis' one...
Buckle in, Danny boy!