When to plug in your car?

[sdiep]

I don't know much about cars, so I thought I would ask all you guys.

When do you plug in your car? I've been told by a mechanic to plug it in once it dips down to -20. But do you factor in windchill as well?

It was -17 today, and I didn't plug it in while I was at work (8 hours), but with windchill, I believe they said it was around -25? My car did start after the third try - is that a bad thing/wrecks the car?

[StreetRacerX]

To be honest I never plug in my car, I simply can't due to parking, but I would right now if I could. Doesn't seem to matter though as I drive it once or twice every couple weeks and it still starts fine, just makes different noises at different temperatures and cranks a few times before it will start.

[ryanallan]

Windchill doesn't effect cars, only living things.
Plugging it in at any temp will make it easier to start.
Cold oil does not provide the same protection as warm oil, and thus is worse for your engine.

[sdiep]

So it's okay that it doesn't start on the first try in cold winter weather conditions?

[sdiep]

Originally posted by ryanallan
Windchill doesn't effect cars, only living things.
Plugging it in at any temp will make it easier to start.
Cold oil does not provide the same protection as warm oil, and thus is worse for your engine.

Oh, so tomorrow the weather in the afternoon is -18 (without windchill), so I just use that as a gauge to determine whether to plug my car in or not.

I see lots of other cars able to withstand the winter conditions regardless. Is it because of the particular make of the car, or something else, that makes their car more "reliable"?

[ryanallan]

what kind of car do you have
what type of engine is it
what kind of oil are you using
what kind of battery do you have (amps / age)
how many km's

[sdiep]

Originally posted by ryanallan
what kind of car do you have
what type of engine is it
what kind of oil are you using
how many km's

Honda Accord 2000
I have no idea about the engine.
I did my last oil change in December at the Honda dealership, not sure what kind of oil they put in it. :S
88,000 km? (But the km's are going to rack up more nowadays, since I'm driving 130+km/week nowadays)

[ryanallan]

great information

it seems like your car had some trouble at -17 today, why dont you plug it in at anything lower than -15

[sdiep]

Originally posted by ryanallan
great information

it seems like your car had some trouble at -17 today, why dont you plug it in at anything lower than -15

Thanks. When you say -15, do I factor in the "windchill" or the posted temperature on weathernetwork, lol. :P

I guess I'm plugging in tomorrow, but have to dish out money for parking with plugins, haha damn.

[ryanallan]

Remember when I mentioned that windchill only effects living things?

[sdiep]

Originally posted by ryanallan
Remember when I mentioned that windchill only effects living things?

Oh right, thanks!
And using the "high" temp as the gauge is fine then, right?

[sr20s14zenki]

Originally posted by sdiep


Oh right, thanks!
And using the "high" temp as the gauge is fine then, right?

Yep. Make sure you dont plug it in all night, get yourself a timer, they are like 10$ at canadian tire. It only needs about an hour before startup to do its job. Youll be wasting electricity all night for nothing (=

[sdiep]

Originally posted by sr20s14zenki


Yep. Make sure you dont plug it in all night, get yourself a timer, they are like 10$ at canadian tire. It only needs about an hour before startup to do its job. Youll be wasting electricity all night for nothing (=

Sweet! Thanks for the heads up on that. I really appreciate your guys help btw!

Next time I get an oil change, should I ask for something specific so it'll work better in the winter?

[ExtraSlow]

Originally posted by ryanallan
Remember when I mentioned that windchill only effects living things?

Well, a car will cool off faster in a windy location than in a sheltered one, but given enough time (like a full work day or overnight) they will both get down to the same temperature.

[davesparky6]

Originally posted by ryanallan
Remember when I mentioned that windchill only effects living things?

Windchill affects anything that is producing heat, houses, cars, people, whatever. Your car when it isn't running (parked) isn't producing heat, so windchill won't affect it. As mentioned before though, your car will cool off quicker in the wind.
The more you know...

[AutoMats]

Below -5 for me

[speedog]

An almost 2 year bump to tell us that, so so very cool AutoMats.

[Boosted131]

Never plug mine in...

Lol@ 130 km a week being racking up the kilometers.

[Tomaz]

I never plug my car in. Heated garage FTW!!!!

But I normally would anything below -10. Timer set to 30 mins before I needed the car. I always pre-started the car so it would at least start gaining temp before moving it.

[Hallowed_point]

I park outside, run synthetic and still am forced to plug in whenever the temperature gets below zero...even -1.

If I don't , my car will sputter and stall unless I hold the rpm's at ~ 2 grand for 2-3 minutes to warm in up. Kinda annoying but