Does anybody use thinner oil for cold start protection?

?Thinner oil than what,

What vehicles and with what recommended oils are you thinking of?

http://www.kewengine...y_explained.htm

If you mean in the UK,

are you not already using an oil that would suit a temp range for cold starting from -20 celcius or lower & up to maybe +35 or so?

george

Edited 7 July, 201213 yr by sk4gw

Very different round here. Temps are quite regularly down at -20 during winter but can go much lower. My yard, -32 was the coldest it got last summer but at my buddy's place I had to start the car at -43 one day.

Liquids are the same year round and can take it, but you'll need proper winter tires - studded usually, and of course you need an engine heater, either electric one that heats the liquid in the engine block for a few hours before start, or on a tube going to the radiator. In modern cars, the only option may be radiation heater 'glued' to the oil pan bottom.

Most people also mask the front intake holes for the coldest season, some with just cardboard but most cars have optional accessory plastic shields for winter use.

I carry a winter kit including jump leads, snow shovel, 'Pringles' tin of full gravel (it helps if you need to get started on ice), fleece blanket, extra coat, hat and gloves, hi-viz vest, tow rope, and some basic tools, plus it always a good idea to carry a car charger for the mobile phone. The car has a DEFA engine block heater, and decent winter tyres. The chances are that the single most used item in my kit is the tow rope - used to pull other people out of the ditches...

Snow off lights, bonnet and windscreen as covered.

Also clear the roof!

I learnt this after breaking into a roundabout and the full snow load from the roof slid onto the windscreen. Took a few wipes to remove and nearly broke the wipers as it all backed up at the bottom.

Nothing bad happened but ever since I have had a nice snow free roof in winter!

Agree with the battery checks under load.  Battery should measure 14.6 give or take a little  when engine idling and lights on.  If it's below 14, it isn't taking a charge, if above 14.8, there may be voltage rectifier issues.  It's the only reliable battery test short of removing the battery and measuring a drop test over 3 days from fully charged.  Battery life:  NOT all the same between batteries.  For budget batteries, expect no more than 2 years, especially with diesel engines.  Premium makes, expect 5 years to 7 years.  Lots of short trips kill batteries as they don't get the chance of a proper charge.

 

I'm sometimes tempted to use washing up liquid in place of screenwash but it's not a great idea for regular use as it contains loads of salt and will damage paintwork and cause metalwork corrosion if not properly rinsed...longer term.  Over winter you can't beat concentrated screenwash and keep it at 50/50, especially on Mk1 Fabias which blow the rear washer pipe connections all too easily as soon as the water freeezes.

 

Tyre pressures:  Get them checked.  Too low and whilst tyre's will heat up quicker, you'll also move around more risking earlier loss of control which you don't want on potentially slippery/damp surfaces.

 

Paintwork protection...as soon as gritter lorries start smothering our roads (and cars!), damages to unprotected metalwork and paintwork increases.  Check your car for any minor rust before the winter and treat before touching up damaged area. I find that after washing the car, waxing and finishing with a "shine sealant" helps maintain shine, reduces crud build up and makes maintaining bodywork easier.

 

Wipers: after washing car weekly, clean wiper blades using cotton pads and a little meths.  It takes all the crud away helping to maintain wiper efficiency.

 

As above, tow rope/jumper leads a good idea, or one of those jump start stations (pretty compact) which you can carry around in case your own battery goes flat!

 

Finally, for anything other than a short trip, take clothing and appropriate footwear for an un-planned walk home should you get stuck; mobiles kept fully charged and a few energy bars in the glove box.

One for those who were lucky enough to get a heated windscreen on their cars won't have to worry about:

 

http://eal-vertrieb.de/Online-Shop/KFZ-WINTERZUBEHOER/Scheibenheizungen/Heizmatte-EIS-FREI-Scheibenheizung-inkl-12V-Zeitschaltuhr.html

 

Don't know if they're any good, but coming from Germany, I can't see them being rubbish. Has anyone used one?

Just out of curiosity. Does anybody actually carry a boot full of clothes, jump leads, etc etc.

I know its probably sensible to, but, do you do it?

Just out of curiosity. Does anybody actually carry a boot full of clothes, jump leads, etc etc.

I know its probably sensible to, but, do you do it?

No

No, when you have the physique of Jabba The Hutt, you don't need to. 

Just out of curiosity. Does anybody actually carry a boot full of clothes, jump leads, etc etc.

I know its probably sensible to, but, do you do it?

 

Yeap, our Health and safety policy dictates that all all company car have a kit that includes tow rope warning, beacon, warning triangle and some others stuff. Oddly they refuse to supply winter tyres despite having mainly rural based staff.

 

I also carry a snow shovel, extra jacket, a multi pack or Mars bars and have wet weather clothing in the car all the time anyway

I bought four of these for my winter prep.

I couldn't store mars bars for emergencies as I'd eat them all before they were needed.

http://

Yeap, our Health and safety policy dictates that all all company car have a kit that includes tow rope warning, beacon, warning triangle and some others stuff. Oddly they refuse to supply winter tyres despite having mainly rural based staff.

I also carry a snow shovel, extra jacket, a multi pack or Mars bars and have wet weather clothing in the car all the time anyway

Christ. I bet you order a car the next size up just so youve got room for your own stuff! Haha.

Christ. I bet you order a car the next size up just so youve got room for your own stuff! Haha.

I keep warning triangle, beacon jacket and bulb kit etc and a coat in my cars boot and also kit kats when I don't eat them all

I keep warning triangle, beacon jacket and bulb kit etc and a coat in my cars boot and also kit kats when I don't eat them all

Thats better than me.

I think my car came with a triangle, and iv usually got a mars bar in the drivers door.

Not because i might get stranded, just because i sometimes get peckish whilst im driving haha.

Thats better than me.

I think my car came with a triangle, and iv usually got a mars bar in the drivers door.

Not because i might get stranded, just because i sometimes get peckish whilst im driving haha.

I tend to keep my lunch or a pasty I'm my door

I tend to keep my lunch or a pasty I'm my door

Thats good. If you break down before dinner time... Haha.

Thats good. If you break down before dinner time... Haha.

I also keep a spare phone on my different network

I also keep a spare phone on my different network

Iv heard this before. Sounds a good idea.

I tend not to worry too much though lol.

Iv heard this before. Sounds a good idea.

I tend not to worry too much though lol.

You don't drive a Clio so don't worry .....

You don't drive a Clio so don't worry .....

Haha. Thats a fair shout i suppose!

Haha. Thats a fair shout i suppose!

When I get the Fabia I'll have selection of tools in the back too

When I get the Fabia I'll have selection of tools in the back too

Youll be tweeking things as you go along! lol

Youll be tweeking things as you go along! lol

Ermm no not that Fabia .....

Christ. I bet you order a car the next size up just so youve got room for your own stuff! Haha.

 When I need more room I just eat the Mars bars!