How to Keep Your Car Starting In Below Zero Temps

When the temps are dropping below zero with serious wind chill factors, many a car does not feel like starting up, especially if the car doesn't have the luxury of being in a garage. There are a few things you can do to prevent a "no start" situation so you can just jump in that ice box you call a car, and start her right up!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Full tank of gas
• "Heet" for the gas tank.
• Fuel tank additive sold just about everywhere
• Blankets or quilt (Optional)
• Motor oil and AntiFreeze/Coolant (optional, if needed to fill to proper levels)

1. Make sure that your oil is in good condition, being changed at regular intervals and the dip stick reads full. Proper oil circulation is very important, particularly after the car has first started up after sitting in the cold. Changing the oil will keep it fluid as it should be, whereas old oil may become thick and sluggish causing a hard start, not to mention that if the oil does not reach the cylinders and circulate properly, your engine can seize and lock up.

2. Your anti freeze/coolant should also be updated and flushed regularly. Over time the chemicals in the fluid break down and in sub zero temps you need every edge, never wanting to run the risk of it freezing up, which can possibly ruin your radiator and crack your engine block. Be sure that the radiator and/or overflow canister is full at all times.

3. Naturally your battery should be fully charged and in good condition. Also, be sure that if it is not a maintenance free battery that the water levels are full.

4. It is also wise to keep a full tank of gas and also to add "Heet" to the gas tank. This serves to evaporate any moisture that may be in the fuel lines, which can freeze and prevent proper flow of fuel which can certainly cause a no start.

5. If you have a very old car with a carburetor, pump the gas pedal once or twice times before starting to prime the carburetor. If you have a fuel injected car, which is much more typical, you should not work the gas pedal at all upon your initial start up. After the car has started you can then work the pedal to keep it running if it feels like it may stall until you are at a steady rpm.

6. If your car does not start up right away, wait 30 seconds to a minute and try again, never holding the ignition key forward for more than maybe 5 or 10 seconds at a time, stopping and waiting before turning the key again. You can flood the car with fuel and wear your battery down quickly by forcing the situation. Better to wait a bit and then try again later, allowing time for any additional fuel causing flooding to settle and also giving your battery a chance to rebuild. Sometimes you may even need to come back an hour or so later to retry.

Tips & Warnings

• In extreme cold you should start your car now and then throughout the day and let it run 5 or 10 minutes at a time to help prevent any freezing of fuel lines and give the engine a chance to warm up allowing oil circulation.
• If hard to start, your best time to try is in the warmer part of the day, like in the afternoon.
• After parking your car for the evening it is a good idea to start it one more time before bed, running it 5 to 10 minutes, increasing your chances of a quick start in the morning.
• Putting an old quilt or thick blankets over the engine and battery overnight will certainly help in starting the car in the morning by reducing condensation and keeping things a bit warmer. BUT PLEASE REMEMBER to remove the blankets before starting her up. Maybe a post it tag on the steering wheel to remind you will help!
• Before turning the car off after parking, turn off all accessories and run the car an additional minute or so which will serve to give your battery a better chance to rebuild while not being used, which will increase your chances of a quicker start next time.
• Allow your car time to warm up after starting in cold temps, at least a few minutes, before driving. Fluids in the car such as oil, antifreeze and transmission fluid need an opportunity to warm up and circulate properly before pushing the car and expecting normal performance. Starting and taking right off in sub zero temps can possibly cause major damage!

[grouch]

on 3/29/2008 Thanks for the great tips. They have a heater magnet that sticks to your engine block and keeps it warm during the night. It plugs into the wall and is my lifesaver sometimes when it is cold as all get out during the winter. As an added note for those of us that do things to the hilt watch that you don't use too much heat or additives or it could leave you with many fuel fiter changes which are way more expensive then missing a day of work if your filter is inside the gas tank. Good luck. It is almost warm, Yippe!

[Blackbear]

on 1/29/2008 Sorry about that! I hope that made sense. It sounded right in my head! The keypad and my fingers had different plans I think. lol

[Blackbear]

on 1/29/2008 I am convinced can-do, your a some kind of a car god!

[CCrock]

on 1/26/2008 Good to know! When I grew up in Canada, my parents would always have the car plugged into an outlet. All the grocery store parking lots had plug-ins for each parking spot so people could plug in their cars.

[MidniteWriter]

on 1/24/2008 Great to know, especially in the cold midwest!