Ugh, cold starts

"TheHondaBro" (wwaveform) 11/22/2015 at 13:08 • Filed to: None

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So winter is coming, and I can’t use the garage for the duration of the season, which means my car is sitting out on the driveway in the cold, which means it’s hard to start in the morning. Anyone know how to properly start a cold engine? I’m worried the <1-year-old battery will shit the bed again.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > TheHondaBro 11/22/2015 at 13:13

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I noticed my battery was getting weak as well last week. I wonder if I should start driving it more often to keep it fresh? For the record I use my personal vehicle maybe three times a week.

TheHondaBro > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 11/22/2015 at 13:16

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I hate the sound of a slow crank. It’s so depressing.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > TheHondaBro 11/22/2015 at 13:20

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Lower weight oil will help with that- thinner oil means less resistance to turning when the engine is stone cold.

Smoggi - powered by 3 cylinders > TheHondaBro 11/22/2015 at 13:20

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Unless you want to put it on the charger every night you’ll have to get used to the slow crank.

Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes > TheHondaBro 11/22/2015 at 13:24

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As has been mentioned, oil. You can try finding an online guide for outside temperatures and oil specific to your engine. Ie I run 15/50 summer and 15/40 winter.

Also battery tenders are great to have anyway and will extend your battery life if you don’t drive everyday. Only ~50 for a decent one that will last at least a few years.

CB > TheHondaBro 11/22/2015 at 13:30

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Any way you could get a block heater installed?

Echo51 > Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes 11/22/2015 at 13:32

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The first number is the COLD oil viscoscity, not the last number... so 5/30.

Echo51 > TheHondaBro 11/22/2015 at 13:34

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Don’t you get warrenties on batteries? I mean if it shits the bed within 2 years or so, check what the shop/garage/producer offer of warrenty if any

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > TheHondaBro 11/22/2015 at 13:37

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use manufacturer specified oil. never had an issue with any of my vehicles here in MI and most of them have 3years or older batteries

Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes > Echo51 11/22/2015 at 13:39

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Yes but there is still enough difference in the oil weights to make a slight difference. My m30 likes heavier oil, and I don’t really want to drastically change oil weight every 6 months or so.

BloodlessWeevil > Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes 11/22/2015 at 14:04

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That is the wrong way to do it. The first number is the cold viscosity rating, the second is the warm rating. Your engine oil will be at about the same operating temperature regardless of ambient (within reason of course.) To help with cold starts, you want to lower the first number not the second.

To the OP: I would not use oil weights other than what is specified by the manufacturer unless you really know what you are doing. Here is a very good source of information regarding engine oil: http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/motor-oil-101/

Klaus Schmoll > TheHondaBro 11/22/2015 at 14:05

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IMHO, don’t let it idle to warm up. An angine at idle produces very little heat so that it takes pretty long to heat up, resulting in even more wear. Drive off slowly and don’t rev the tits off, but drive off and it will warm up much faster.

In Europe auxilliary heaters that heat up the coolant, giving you a warm engine and a warm cab are pretty common, yet nobody in the US seems to have heard of them.

Berang > TheHondaBro 11/22/2015 at 14:06

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Every night remove the sparkplugs and let them sleep in your bed so they’re warmed up for the next morning!

Berang > Klaus Schmoll 11/22/2015 at 14:08

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In the old days block heaters were pretty common in the U.S. - I’m not really sure why people stopped using them.

BloodlessWeevil > TheHondaBro 11/22/2015 at 14:08

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How cold does it get where you are?

You really should not notice a difference cranking or starting a modern car (newer than ~1980.) until below -20F. Are you sure there is not something wrong with it?

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > TheHondaBro 11/22/2015 at 14:16

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Light a small fire under the engine bay.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Klaus Schmoll 11/22/2015 at 14:26

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+1 for not revving the tits off it

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > TheHondaBro 11/22/2015 at 14:28

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I think you are over reacting from probably not actually having ever really lived in a coldish climate before. On a really old car say pre fuel injection I used to do 10/30 or 5/30 oil in the winter, it does make a small bit of difference for initial resistance due to oil being really thick and heavy. That being said it needs to be 0 deg. F before going to a 5/30 will really make a difference.

I just make sure my battery tests out good and get on with life. Even my 1990 isuzu will start when it is -20 F. It sounds like its not going to but it fires up every time.

Block heaters and battery heaters used to be all the rage but modern cars just start so much easier than an old ass worn out car.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Klaus Schmoll 11/22/2015 at 14:55

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They are still common in northern Minnesota, alaska etc... but even where I live in MT people really don’t use them much anymore. Modern cars that are already on light weight oil and fuel injection just start so much easier now days. I do put my car in the garage if I know it’s going to be below zero.

Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes > BloodlessWeevil 11/22/2015 at 15:04

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I’m following bmws recommendend temperature guide. Sorry but Im going to continue to listen to a list that bmws own engineers put together. Like I said, it doesn’t make a huge difference but it’s recommended for a temperature range about 15-20 degrees lower. I appreciate your concern but I know what I’m doing.

Shoop > TheHondaBro 11/22/2015 at 15:31

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the one piece of sort of advanced technology on my truck is remote start. Its a beautiful thing.

B Reynolds > TheHondaBro 11/22/2015 at 16:07

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You could throw one of these On-Board Maintainers

Echo51 > Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes 11/22/2015 at 17:13

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Use the User Manual’s guide for oil yes, but don’t go around saying the hot viscoscity is the one you want to lower for easiere cold starter, please.

Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes > Echo51 11/22/2015 at 17:26

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Overall it’s still going to lower, the closer to the middle of the temperature range the better off you’re going to be. You’re obviously somewhat mechanically inclined so you should know that things are not black and white. Especially oil. Also I specifically stated that the OP should look for his specific vehicle, I was simply giving an example.

Motoräder_frei_machen > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 11/23/2015 at 09:05

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If only they made something to tend your battery, that would just trickle charge, to maintain the voltage....