People from up North--do you really plug your cars in at night?

[torinsmom]

I just got back from a trip to Minnesota and someone I met from Montana said people "up North" plug their cars in at night to keep their engines from freezing. Is this really true? I had never heard that.

 

[freckles and boo]

Some people use engine block warmers, if that is what you are referring to.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

I am sure some people do, but around here anyway, it certainly isn't the norm!

 

[diesel]

my husband uses one for his diesel truck in the winter here in Mass. Diesel trucks are hard to start in cold weather.

 

[AshleyW]

DF's dad has a diesel F350 that he plugs in at night when it gets cold.

 

[Boo'sMom]

that's usually if the car runs on a diesel engine. It's much more common to have trucks plugged in, but if you do own a diesel car, you're plugging it in in my neck of the woods, it keeps the fuel from gelling.

 

[ctinct]

When my son had a diesel truck, he used to do it. We don't do it with our gas cars. Of course, it doesn't get quite as cold here as say, International Falls. (Those poor people who live there-it seems they are frequently rhe coldest spot in the lower 48). If we get a prolonged spell of really cold weather (below zero at night) I will make sure to start my car every day regardless of if I am using it or not. Doesn't happen often. Otherwise, if I ever do wake up to a dead battery, I'd just call AAA.

 

[Ember]

I plug my little Echo in at anything below -20 C (-4 F). Otherwise she won't start in the morning. For anything below -30 C (-22 F) I plug her in at work, too. So she's plugged in overnight most of the winter, and usually a few weeks at work as well.

 

[suejai]

As the pp said we plug in the engine block heater. This keeps the oil and fluids warm enough to flow when you start the car. I typically won't plug in my car until it gets to -28 to -30C (-13 to -22F) Ah, the joys of living in Alberta.

 

[Sorsha]

Yep, we do!

In Montana (my area anyhow) most cars are sold with an engine block heater already installed. There's this wee little plugin that sticks out of the front of your car, usually in the grille somewhere, and you plug that in at night to keep your engine warm and keep things from freezing up. Most people, if their car didn't come with one, take the car to a mechanic right away and have one installed. DH has one, I don't - but I wish I did. I am the only one in our circle of friends who doesn't have one.

Our houses are usually built with a plug-in accessible near the driveway or parking area, so the cars can be plugged in. I have even seen little electrical outlets on posts near each parking spot at hotels and motels, to enable overnight guests to plug their cars in and be able to get on the road again the next morning.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

When I lived in Alaska, we did. It was awesome. I wish we did that here in PA!

 

[Ember]

As the pp said we plug in the engine block heater. This keeps the oil and fluids warm enough to flow when you start the car. I typically won't plug in my car until it gets to -28 to -30C (-13 to -22F) Ah, the joys of living in Alberta.

I'm in Alberta, too! Why do we live here? There are places where they don't have to plug their cars in during the winter....

 

[JimmyPicker]

My husband has a diesel truck that he plugs in. I don't know anything about it. Just that there's an extention cord that has to be unplugged before you pull out of the driveway or...whoopsie!

 

[kimblebee]

I'm in Manitoba and yes we plug in our cars too. Anything under around -20C and it should be plugged in overnight or it just won't start in the morning. As a PP said, on a really cold day it should be plugged in even when you are at work.

 

[suejai]

I'm in Alberta, too! Why do we live here? There are places where they don't have to plug their cars in during the winter....

Oh I know! I ask this every winter

 

[englishteacha]

Our school district plugs in our buses. One day we had a delay because someone went and unplugged all the buses! Not a single bus would start. I don't know if they ever caught the culprit, but it was the weirdest reason for a school delay I've ever experienced.

 

[brerrabbit]

We moved to Calgary, Alberta in June of 1992 and as DW and I drive through some neighborhoods we noticed extension cords running from some houses through the trees out to the street and hanging above the curb. We could not figure out why so many people did it. As the winter came and we learned about block heaters we finally knew what they were there for. I was also told if you plug your car in at work on cold days to always connect the cord inside the hood or someone might take your extension cord.

 

[drag n' fly]

Yes plugging in is necessary when it gets around -25c or colder. If you dont you end up with a cracked block. I have all kids of creative ways of making sure my cord does not get stolen.....they are a hot commodity during cold snaps

 

[binny]

yep and it was quite the shock to come down south where they didnt.

 

[kelly7ak]

Absolutely necessary up here in Fairbanks!! Parking lots downtown have plug-ins for employees that work there, so do many apartment buildings, etc. We have timers that automatically turn the power on and off for the engine block heaters.