Sub-zero winters and my car (Fargo, Williston: living in, gas, parking)
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I have lived in Colorado for the past 5 years, and while winter can get cold, it's nothing like the winters in Fargo. I've never had trouble with starting my car in the winter in Colorado, but with the sub-zero temperatures in Fargo, I anticipate I will need to do a little more for my car so I can get to work and get around. Is there anything I can put in my car to keep it from freezing up on those sub-zero days?
Big battery or two and a block heater is a good place to start, but a block heater won't matter if you don't have a place to plug it in. That's more for comfort though. Along the same lines, you could get a remote starter or seat heaters.
As someone living in the cold climate... a must for any vehicle parked outdoors a lot is a good quality battery with enough cranking amps. If you have that, it will improve the situation greatly. Block heaters are nice too if park outdoors a lot, but if have a good battery only found I need to plug in if well below -20F, which doesnt occur too often. Do get a car checkup when you arrive by a good mechanic.
As mentioned above, get the battery and radiator checked before winter. Aside from that, if you are parking outdoors and don't have access to an outlet to plug in a block heater, warm the car up at night if it's going to be a severely cold overnight temperature. Most vehicles will still start okay if they've been sitting for less than 12 hours.
I have yet to see a place in Fargo without outdoor plugins, so block heater. Also, make sure to put Heet in your car when you fill up. I've never had a problem when I use those.
I would suggest you keep the gas tank near full most of the time. Don't be one of those that always waits until they are on empty and then puts in as little gas as they need to get by.
A high capacity battery, get one with the highest CCA rating that will fit.
Or if you think yours is good have it load tested and clean the connections.
Next try synthetic oil.
Block heaters are nice but not necessarily, necessary.
heet or any of those gasoline anti freeze products use alcohol IPA, to keep the water in the gas from freezing this is not needed as the gas has ethanol in it
this type or alcohol will do the same thing as the heet.
If you are really determand to live in your car you could add a ecpar heater.
not sure if they have one thet uses gas, I think they need diesel fuel to run.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gilmore16
I have yet to see a place in Fargo without outdoor plugins, so block heater. Also, make sure to put Heet in your car when you fill up. I've never had a problem when I use those.
A high capacity battery, get one with the highest CCA rating that will fit.
Or if you think yours is good have it load tested and clean the connections.
Next try synthetic oil.
Block heaters are nice but not necessarily, necessary.
heet or any of those gasoline anti freeze products use alcohol IPA, to keep the water in the gas from freezing this is not needed as the gas has ethanol in it
this type or alcohol will do the same thing as the heet.
If you are really determand to live in your car you could add a ecpar heater.
not sure if they have one thet uses gas, I think they need diesel fuel to run.
I do not think anyone advocates using an unvented heater in a car, or trying to live in a car in N.D. in winter.
Last edited by JanND; 10-18-2012 at 04:55 PM..
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