Re: How Cold Can It Go???


[Follow Ups] [Post Followup] [Dodge Power Wagon Forum]


Posted by Peter Hewko on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 at 3:22PM :

In Reply to: How Cold Can It Go??? posted by James Fuller on Tuesday, December 30, 2003 at 11:29PM :

The first year I drove my '63 M37, I started and ran it down to -40 without preheating it. Turned over slow, but would cath and start reliably. Below that though, I had problems with the plugs freezing. After that year, I installed heaters on the oil pan, tranny and t-case. Even with the tranny and t-case heaters, 75-90 gear lube and waiting until the engine was up to temperature, it would take about a mile before the gear lube had warmed up sufficiently to shift above third gear. A couple years later a tank heater went on. Two winters ago when it got down to -45 (after two weeks at -40), I had an axle shaft break on me. 11.00-16 Michelins’ll flat spot at these temps too.
I’ve also driven my ’67 El Camino and a ’56 Willys Wagon (still 6v) in similar temperatures. All are carbureted and I haven’t had problems with any of them.
The military had power plant heater kits for vehicles in arctic conditions. These were gas-fired heaters that warmed the coolant and batteries (via a heater core installed inside the battery box), and had the exhaust from the heater ducted to a shroud around the oil pan to warm that. Insulated grille covers and hood blankets were included to help retain the heat as well.
As far as preheating vehicles goes, block heaters are my preference, followed by lower radiator hose heaters. Pad heaters are the best type for oil pans and gear boxes. I use them for batteries as well, though trickle chargers are supposed to be better. Other ways to preheat an engine include charcoal briquettes in a paint can (even works at temperatures when propane liquefies), ducting exhaust from a running vehicle under the hood, removing plugs and warming them in an oven, and the before mentioned removing of oil and/or batteries to a warm place. Helping start stubborn vehicles, I’ve used all of these tricks, save for removing the oil.

-Peter Hewko
Fairbanks, AK




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