Getting your car to start in cold weather? (Fargo, ND)?

Question

Ok, I just moved to Fargo North Dakota from Portland Oregon for school purposes. I understand the winters in this region are quite cold..frequently below zero...and I am nervous about my 91 pontiac sunbird being able to start in those conditions. I've researched Engine Block heaters and other such heaters but the problem is, they all need to be plugged in, and my school has no electrical outlets on available in the parking lots. So my questions are as follows:
1. Am I overreacting...do people in these parts not actually use these?
2. Will my car have problems starting without a device such as these? If so, what would you recommend me do?
THANK YOU

Answer 1

The handbook for the old Russian Lada cars used to recommend switching on the headlights for 10 seconds. This warms the battery, so it will work better when operating the starter. Turn the lights off again before trying to start the engine. Also, change to a fully synthetic engine oil such as Mobil 1. This has a greater viscosity range 0W-40 or 5W-50, which will help the oil circulate in cold weather.

Answer 2

There are few things you can do. First is to have your car serviced with a tune up in the fall and yes a good battery is required for the cold. Next is to definitely consider a block heater or even a battery warmer as these will help especially after sitting over night in the sub zero weather (btw it can be below -20 for several days). Yes sitting all day at the school will mean a long warm up but make sure you keep over a quarter tank of fuel to reduce condensation in the tank. Your vehicle sitting at work will be less time than the over night sit so the block heater for the nights.



Now something else you could consider is a device from Espar which is a heater that runs on the fuel which warms up the engine and can warm up the car before you get into it after school and before you leave in the mornings. It is a heater that you can turn on before you have to leave and will work anywhere as it does not need plugging in. Unfortunately these are expensive compared to a block heater but they do work and are used by many commercial operators.



Up to you but the block heater would be a good thing as well as the decent battery and tune up, should be all you need.

Answer 3

Just get a brand new battery and you shouldn't have a problem.