Date: Sun, 3 Jan 2016 12:09:01 -0400
Reply-To: Robert Fisher <garciasghostvw@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Robert Fisher <garciasghostvw@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Warming the oil in cold weather?
In-Reply-To: <86067495-C8CD-4B82-AD18-14EC8AB74C4E@q.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Now that I live in eastern Canada, I run the 5W50 (used to run 20W50 in the
Cali desert). I've started my '87 GL (2.1; auto) several times in as low as
-16C and haven't had any issues other than the expected slow cranking /
slow ignition - and that with the cold start valve disconnected. I try not
to drive the van in winter due to the salt, etc., but I haven't done
anything special to the engine or battery (other than topping off the
charge now and again), and it's performed normally under those conditions.
YMMV.
My Canadian Chevy daily driver has the obligatory block heater with a -18C
thermostat/cutoff in it; that -18C seems to be the standard point of
concern, if you will, for these parts. I haven't, and wouldn't, attempt to
start either vehicle at or below those temps without some sort of heat
intervention first.
FWIW, I used to put a 500W Halogen lamp, pointed up, under my diesel-fired
pressure washer in the hour before I needed to use it on those odd nights
when the temps were low enough to cause me concern. It worked a peach, even
if it was a little hard on the electric bill.
Robert
On Sun, Jan 3, 2016 at 4:43 AM, Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@q.com> wrote:
> Had a teacher way back in high school tell the class to never buy a truck
> from "up on the Rez", because they commonly would park their trucks against
> the house and run it all night with the heater going full blast to provide
> warmth inside the house.
>
> Karl Wolz
> Sent from my electronic umbilicus
>
> > On Jan 2, 2016, at 11:59 PM, Mark Tuovinen <aksyncronaut@GMAIL.COM>
> wrote:
> >
> > Last but not least and used for decades in some parts of Alaska and other
> > cold climates best left to creatures other than human you can always get
> it
> > started and leave it running until Spring arrives. i don't recommend
> this
> > option especially with a Vanagon but it does work. It is also why used
> > trucks from the North Slope are a bad investment, way too much idling for
> > their low mileage. Years ago I worked in the Parts Dept of a Ford
> > dealership and we sold reman. engines like they were popcorn to the
> Slope.
> >
> > Mark in AK
> >
> > On Sat, Jan 2, 2016 at 2:04 PM, Rocket J Squirrel <
> camping.elliott@gmail.com
> >> wrote:
> >
> >> On 01/02/2016 02:35 PM, Richard Smith wrote:
> >>
> >> All of our vehicles had block heaters. The vws had a circular thing
> >>> under the centre of the crankcase. They also had a "battery blanket"
> >>> to keep the battery warm. Vanagons have no space for those, but they
> >>> were essential back in the day.
> >>>
> >>
> >> Seems like there'd be enough space for something like this:
> >>
> >> <
> >>
> http://www.autozone.com/1/products/18125-battery-pad-heater-22400-kats-heaters-22400.html
> >>>
> >>
> >> --
> >> Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
> >> 1984 Westfalia, auto trans,
> >> Bend, Ore.
> >>
>
--
Cya,
Robert
'87 2.1/Auto GL
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