Question from Northern Canada!

[Mubarak]

Hey guys,

I live in Canada mid west/north. In the winter, it gets really cold -30 and sometimes -40. I have a 2002 Honda Accord SE. This is my first winter here I moved from south east Canada last year there the coldest it got was -15 so no issues with car starting. I am wondering weather it is necessary to get a block heater?? My car will be parked outside this winter.

I have been told the car should start with no problems unless there are other issues, but I really don’t know.
If it is necessary to get one, which one would be better? What type?

Any help or advice will be appreciated!

Barak

Topic

[college man]

I don’t believe the block heater is necessary.

[Erin]

I hope this doesn’t go against the grain of what college man said but here is my though –

12 year old car, parked outside. Down to 30 below. Winter is most brutal on cars.
You might want to just get one for those nights when it is gonna be nasty cold. No point in taking chances.
Other things to think about – have some survival gear in the car. IF a car breaks down in that kind of weather, it becomes a life and death situation.

It probably is not really needed but I don’t know for sure. I try to take as few chances as possible with my own car.

30 below is REALLY cold. We had a day like that last winter here in Indiana. I fired up my 99 cougar and it made noises I have never heard from a car. Runs fine any other time but oh boy…

[Mubarak]

lol exactly! my car runs really fine any other time BUT when it gets 20 below which happened last night (I know its November still!) but yeah.. it cranked 4 or 5 times then it starts. it always does that when it starts to get 15 below. Last year I changed spark plugs started a little better after. I cannot think of any other issue (baterry is 15 months old) that will prevent it from starting..

Thanks for your reply guys

[JoeCool]

I used to live in north of Quebec where -30c are usual 🙂
You should be able to start without block heater but I will advise you to have one. For engine are alot better than 20 years ago, but at -30c and below that, every things are frozen, so heating for few hours before starting will surely help. Having warm antifreeze everywhere in the block will warm it and help a lot… Lubrication will be better for the first few minutes too. It will also help your old starter/ battery. Also be sure to test antifreeze for good mix value …

[Gary]

In your case, I would get a block heater. Better to be safe then sorry especially in those harsh conditions. I wouldn’t call it necessary, just insurance.

[college man]

In this cold of weather I would recommend using full synthetic
oil unless you already are using the synthetic. 🙂

[Thomas Ferry]

In that low of temps and conditions I’ve always seen cars get temperamental about starting. Getting a block heater just depends on where the car is stored when not in use garage no outside yes.. Fully synthetic oil can only help so much. Especially if a car is stored outside cause eventually the laws of thermodynamics do take over.

I’ve seen blocks crack before while trying to start at low temps. My 1985 Nova went down and out cause of this.

[Jamie]

Grew up in temps like that. Don’t miss it! Defiantly get a block heater. Even if you only use it on the coldest nights its worth it. Even if it just means your car blows warmish air right away. The other thing to look at is an oil pan heat pad. Those things are fantastic. It doesn’t matter what oil you have, when its -35 that oil turns into grease. If you can keep it mostly liquefied it will have better lubrication when it does start up. Even where I live now I have a little desk top heater I leave in my car to help warm it up on those cold mornings without having to idle it in my driveway for 20 min at 6 am. In extreme cold conditions I’ve seen guys with heated battery blankets. And in the worst conditions I know of many people who just left their pick ups running over night to keep them from freezing up.

Having a survival pack in the car is the smartest thing you can do. Even in Vancouver winter I keep a bag in the back seat on the floor with a full change of clothes, a really warm parka, an old blanket and a couple bottles of water. Keep a small collection of practical tools in there as well.

[Author]

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