Just a video of me starting my classic 1988 Pontiac Firebird Trans am in -24 celsius. Sorry if I am mumbling sometimes or couldn't find the right words to say.......super cold temps tend to do that to a person! Hahaha

You Tube

 

Cold starts are a double whammy to the starting system. The starter pulls more current and slows cranking speed in colder temps (due to engine oil viscosity increasing). Meanwhile, the batteries are getting weaker and weaker in colder temps. So literally the batteries are getting weaker at the same time the demand on the batteries goes up. Ya, that's not going to work.

First thing you do is lower oil viscosity by changing to a winter weight oil blend. That will unload the starter quite a bit and cranking speed should go up, and engine starting improve. If that's not enough, then you can install a block heater or oil pan heater. If that's not enough then you probably need more battery. And if that's still not enough.... then you need to drive something else.

 

Tell me about it, been driving this baby since our first snowfall last september. This past week though it was tough as the temperatures only stayed between -20 to -40 celsius the entire week but she did start every time and hasn't left me stranded anywhere yet. Saw a lot of "younger" cars that couldn't fire up because of the extreme cold. Good thing we're back to seasonal temperatures starting today.......single digits are great to see on the thermometer after this past week!

 

I second getting a block heater. Easy to knock out a freeze plug and install

 

Driving around in -24 celsius with snow on the ground, been doing this snow thingy since late september and here in my part of the world it can snow til mid May too!

 

Battery blanket heaters do wonders too.

Winter weight engine oil is a must though. It's the one thing you can do that doesn't require a plug-in aid.

 

Thanks for the tips guys!

 

LOL My favorite part of dealing with extreme cold was when the 5spd shifter got so stiff it would pop from neutral back to whatever gear it was left parked in until it came up to temp. Synthetic fluid made a huge difference.

 

It definitely does! the previous owner(he was the second owner) always used synthetic fluid ever since he got the car.