Anyone else here really disliking their current weather?

[ronandannette]

There was some old thread here where block and battery heaters were mentioned. Even mommasita (from Quebec) said she'd never heard of anyone who had one, although I suspect some did but never talked about it. A block heater isn't really all that much other than a tiny immersion heater. Unless there's some sort of auxiliary pump, it's only going to heat a small portion of the coolant. It's just a head start on heating, although I understand that many just use them to speed up the time it takes to have heat in the car.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/let-a-car-run-before-driving.3382066/page-3#post-53121736

Most modern motor oils operate at far colder temperatures. Heck - Honda and Subaru now mostly spec 0W-20 motor oil for the US and China, although the main reason is for fuel economy.

A few years back I was buying a car battery at Sears, and the online options said there were "north" and "south" versions optimized for either cold weather starting or to last longer in hot conditions. I just ordered the cheapest option and went to pick it up. When I got to the store there was only one version.

Sure, whatever. Spend a winter in northern Alberta without a block heater and then we'll talk.

 

[bcla]

Sure, whatever. Spend a winter in northern Alberta without a block heater and then we'll talk.

She said that everyone she knows has a remote starter. I drive a stick and keep it in gear (plus the parking brake) so a remote starter wouldn't be an option since it would just stall unless I put it in neutral. I understand there are ways around this, but it still seems rather risky with the possibility of a car just rolling down a hill or maybe bucking a few feet when parked.

For the most part, getting an engine to start in cold weather shouldn't be an issue with a car in good shape. Motor oils still flow at subzero temperatures, and a strong battery and starter should still start. I have parked my car overnight only to find it cold as heck with a foot of snow on the roof. No block heater nor a place to plug it into. I did let it warm up since I wanted to be able to feel my hands before I started driving.

 

[CdnCarrie]

Everyone in Manitoba has a block heater. I don't have a remote starter.

Nice day today - 6 (21 F) after a week of - 25-35C (-15 F to -31F ).

 

[ronandannette]

She said that everyone she knows has a remote starter. I drive a stick and keep it in gear (plus the parking brake) so a remote starter wouldn't be an option since it would just stall unless I put it in neutral. I understand there are ways around this, but it still seems rather risky with the possibility of a car just rolling down a hill or maybe bucking a few feet when parked.

For the most part, getting an engine to start in cold weather shouldn't be an issue with a car in good shape. Motor oils still flow at subzero temperatures, and a strong battery and starter should still start. I have parked my car overnight only to find it cold as heck with a foot of snow on the roof. No block heater nor a place to plug it into. I did let it warm up since I wanted to be able to feel my hands before I started driving.

Living in the Bay Area I doubt you can speak authoritatively on this. See above ^^.

 

[CdnCarrie]

Oh trust me we have no worried about cars rolling down hills on the Prairies. ___________________________________________________________

 

[bcla]

Everyone in Manitoba has a block heater. I don't have a remote starter.

Nice day today - 6 (21 F) after a week of - 25-35C (-15 F to -31F ).

Sure. However, there are different ways to handle cold weather starts.

There is some argument about whether or not block heaters save money compared to the additional fuel used to warm up and/or inefficiency of driving a cold engine. I guess the costs may not be that much of a concern when using power provided as a courtesy at a parking lot. Aren't most of these timed anyways? It would make more sense just to power the heater for a couple of hours before expecting to drive.

 

[kirstenb1]

Sure, whatever. Spend a winter in northern Alberta without a block heater and then we'll talk.

Although my husband hasn't lived in Maine for a very long time, he definitely remembers his relatives all having block heaters when he was a boy.

 

[NFLDERS]

Everyone in Manitoba has a block heater. I don't have a remote starter.

Nice day today - 6 (21 F) after a week of - 25-35C (-15 F to -31F ).

Same here in this region of Ontario. Fortunately, we've thus far not had to use one in our driving years, almost 50 years, Yeah we're old! And, we've experienced -45.

Stay warm, stay safe, and Happy "Almost" guys!

 

[elgerber]

Same here in this region of Ontario. Fortunately, we've thus far not had to use one in our driving years, almost 50 years, Yeah we're old! And, we've experienced -45.

Stay warm, stay safe, and Happy "Almost" guys!

Yep, far north suburb. It's positively balmy today!

 

[bcla]

Living in the Bay Area I doubt you can speak authoritatively on this. See above ^^.

How is it not going to start unless either that battery/starter is weak, and/or the wrong motor oil is used?

This is what mommasita said:

I don't know a soul with a block heater,. and have NEVER seen an outlet to plug them in, and it has been artic cold for 2 months.. EVERYONE has the remote starter..​

Personally I think a block heater would be a good idea even if I just lived in a relatively warm place like Tahoe. I just like the inside of my car to be warm.

 

[hereyago]

Yea, it is 35 where yesterday it was 75. Then it will be 60 again in a few days

 

[Domo]

Just got back from Orlando, back to England. The shock is palpable.

 

[CdnCarrie]

meh moot point as you can't buy a car without a block heater here.

 

[ronandannette]

meh moot point as you can't buy a car without a block heater here.

Where's tv guy? Isn't he the official arbiter of what is or is not ubiquitously Canadian? I'll stop using my block heater when he tells me I don't need it and not a minute sooner...

 

[CdnCarrie]

Where's tv guy? Isn't he the official arbiter of what is or is not ubiquitously Canadian? I'll stop using my block heater when he tells me I don't need it and not a minute sooner...

Supposedly Mommasita is now the authority on block heaters.

 

[bcla]

Where's tv guy? Isn't he the official arbiter of what is or is not ubiquitously Canadian? I'll stop using my block heater when he tells me I don't need it and not a minute sooner...

Well - I never said don't use it or even that it wasn't a good idea. However, automotive technology is pretty good, to the point where any fairly recent car with a good battery and starter should start in Arctic conditions. Maybe it causes a little more startup wear or maybe the heat take forever to reach the car interior. I get that

If I lived in Minnesota or Alaska, heck yeah I'd make sure all my cars had block heaters and maybe even a battery warmer. I'd probably do that if I lived in Tahoe. Still, it's not going to do too much good in case there's no place to plug in, like in this commercial:

 

[bcla]

Supposedly Mommasita is not the authority on block heaters. In Montreal EVERYONE has remote starters after all.

What's the expression? There's more than one way to skin a cat? It may just be that they're making more money off of them, but a lot of car dealers are trying to sell remote start options like the dealers mentioned in this column:

http://www.startribune.com/q-car-starter-rather-than-an-engine-block-heater/40352242/

I've read plenty of auto message boards, and this seems to be an interesting debate. Honestly, I'd get both.

 

[CdnCarrie]

According to a Colorado report our weather is a death sentence.

http://globalnews.ca/news/3136243/c...ter-calls-winnipegs-weather-a-death-sentence/

 

[CdnCarrie]

What's the expression? There's more than one way to skin a cat? It may just be that they're making more money off of them, but a lot of car dealers are trying to sell remote start options like the dealers mentioned in this column:

http://www.startribune.com/q-car-starter-rather-than-an-engine-block-heater/40352242/

I've read plenty of auto message boards, and this seems to be an interesting debate. Honestly, I'd get both.

Oh yes they have been around for years. Lots of people have them. But a block heater is standard on cars you buy here. You don't get the option of a block heater or not. It just comes with it. Two different things. Remote car starters are to start the car so its warm when you get in it.

No one here thinks about block heaters. They are just there. Like the battery and the wheels and the gear shift. It's a moot point. They are just always there.
Command start - remote start - is more of a luxury item like heated seats. Lots of people have them but they're not standard. I have never had one.

 

[bcla]

Supposedly Mommasita is now the authority on block heaters.

You have something against Habs fans?