Rear View
Dec. 15, 2005
- Snow Tires on all 4
- Don't Slip, Get a Grip
- See and Be Seen
- Really Freaking Cold!
- At Sub-Zero Temps
- Taxi Courtesy for New Year's Eve
- Getting Stuck - What to do before you call a Hooker
- Benign Design
- Winter Motorsports: An Oxymoron?
- More Winter Motorsports
Return to list of Reader
articles by Tim Winker.
Part 4
Baby, it's cold outside… Really Freaking Cold!
Nearly everyone is familiar with "The Rodeo Song".
"It's 40 below and I don't give a fuck
Got a heater in my truck and I'm off to the ro-de-o…."
|
Anti-freeze/Coolant
Make certain that the anti-freeze/coolant is good to at least -40 degrees. You don't want to wander out on that one morning when it's 30 below and discover that the radiator is one solid chunk of ice. As we all know, ice expands while freezing (the little peaks in the ice cube tray) and that expansion can cause a radiator to burst or can crack a cast iron engine block. While a standard mixture of anti-freeze to water is 50/50, the potential for extreme cold in northern Minnesota and Wisconsin dictates a mixture of 60 percent anti-freeze to 40 percent water. Inexpensive anti-freeze testers are available at most auto parts stores, but it is best to have the system tested by an automotive technician for a clear reading of the minimum temperature protection.Regular anti-freeze, ethylene glycol (EG), is usually green or yellow in color, and should be replaced every two years. The anti-freezing properties may still be effective, but the anti-corrosion additives wear out over time, which can lead to premature wear of the water pump and radiator. A major disadvantage to EG is that it is highly poisonous, so it is important to take care of coolant leaks immediately. Dogs and cats, and wild animals too, may be attracted to its sweet odor and taste, and just a few ounces can cause rapid kidney failure and death. Mop up coolant leaks to avoid a tragedy.
About ten years ago, General Motors and Texaco/Havoline introduced an extended life coolant called DexCool. It has been the original engine fill in GM vehicles since about the 1996 model year. This coolant is orange in color and is said to be good for up to five years or 150,000 miles, but that is "under perfect operating conditions." Like regular anti-freeze, it is EG based, but it has a different package of corrosion inhibiting additives for longer effective service. There have been some complaints about DexCool not lasting as long as it is claimed, and even causing some engine problems in late 1990s GM cars and trucks. It is not recommended for high-mileage cars that have had regular EG anti-freeze in the cooling system as the additives in regular anti-freeze can build up in the engine cooling passages and are incompatible with the DexCool additives.
The ecology minded may be tempted to try Sierra or some other propylene glycol (PG) product that is claimed to be "safer for the environment". Propylene glycol is sometimes used in the food industry in small concentrations, but in the concentration used as an anti-freeze it is still poisonous. In addition, after a couple of years use in an engine, metal molecules from the engine leach into the coolant, making it dangerous for animals and humans to consume. PG is also not as effective as EG at extreme temperatures, both hot and cold. It takes a greater concentration of PG in solution with water to equal the protection of EG.
Keep it warm for easier starting
It is common to see cars in the Northland with electrical cords draped over the front bumper. These are for engine block heaters or radiator hose heaters. These heaters are plugged into standard household 110V current, and keep the engine coolant warm enough for easy starting. Though block heaters are inexpensive, they only heat up the coolant, and by convection, the engine oil. "Most block heaters cost about $40," said Mark Strohm of SVS, Inc. an imported car repair shop in Duluth's Lincoln Park neighborhood (2231 W. Superior St. 729-4788). "Installation generally takes one to two hours, depending on the vehicle."A modern equivalent is the remote engine starter. According to Jason Sater at Options Auto in Duluth (2231 W. Superior St. 391-1715) a remote starter allows the owner to start the car with a remote button while in the house or office. The system is on a timer to shut off after a few minutes. There are anti-theft features to keep someone from driving off with the running car. The advantage is that the engine oil and automatic transmission fluid will be warmed up so there is less stress on components that require those lubricants. Disadvantages are that your car will consume more gasoline and add to the air pollution. A standard installation of a remote starter kit begins in the $200 to $250 range.
There are a couple of quick add-ons that can be used to warm up engine fluids without an expensive installation. A magnetic heater can attach to the oil pan to heat up the engine oil, or a dipstick heater can be installed temporarily in place of the oil dipstick. Beware, however, as many front wheel drive cars these days do not have a traditional steel oil pan, or the dipstick tube may be made of plastic and the dipstick heater could cause it to melt.
If you can't afford these cold weather conveniences or get stuck on a cold night without access to 110v, use a blanket. Seriously, drape an old blanket around the top of the engine once you shut it off. Tuck it in wherever you can. Just like a blanket on your bed helps your body to retain heat, the blanket will retain heat from the engine overnight. Just remember to remove the blanket whenever you start the car again.
Tim Winker is a freelance automotive writer who lives west of Twig. He has competed in ice races and winter rallies since the 1970s, and in endurance rallies such as One Lap of America, the Alcan Rally and Targa Newfoundland.