Cold starting tips, not including things that require AC power at the car :-(

1. Take the battery inside for the night, it will work much better when warm.
Battery cranking
amps are proportional to temperature.
2. Check the auto supply stores for a battery blanket, this helps for the short
term but
probably not much if you leave the car for many hours.
3. Park where the sun will be shining next time you will be starting it and keep
the snow off
the car, it insulates and prevents the sun from heating things a bit.
4. Start with the clutch in, less oil damped rotating mass to spin.
5. Get a battery with the most cold cranking amps (CCA) possible. Hard to get
here in SoCal, I got
one in Boulder, CO, on my way through a few years ago. Boston may be better.
6. Park on a hill with as little ice or snow as possible. Asphalt heats quickly
in the sun and will warm
the car more. If the battery dies, you are on a hill.(Please tell me you don't
have an automatic!)

Jim
89 Jetta gl (smashed by neighbor along with garage door)
89 gli (never been below 20F)

PS I once tried to start the Digifant car at -25F in Lake Placid, NY. It fouled
the plugs and had to be towed
to a shop to warm and put in new plugs. The next morning it was -40F, but I knew
it was coming. I left the
car running overnight for 8 hours with every accessory on to make the engine as
warm as possible. This,
ironically, included the AC! I needed to get back to Albany early and I figured
this way I would be sure.
It only burned about an 1/8th of a tank!




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