Older vehicles and this cold weather...

[Okie4570]

Card board over the radiator if there's access, does wonders both while sitting and driving, gas or diesel.

 

[OkieMoe]

Despite being here in OK for awhile now, I've not had to deal with starting my car much at sub-freezing temps. I've had a heated garage most of that time, and just now dealing with these conditions. I drive a 20+ yr old 6-cylinder Chrysler. I know gentle driving is the best way to warm up the engine, but damn...I can be at work in less time than it takes to defrost the windshield. Seriously, with no precipitation, just normal jack frost, it hardly seems worth it to warm up my van for more time than to get the oil pan dispersed and the idle smooth (Especially at 0400) That's def gonna change momentarily when the ice starts falling out of the sky though.

If I wanna warm up my car to be ready to drive, what is appropriate and safe? Assuming that my fluid levels are all correct, and I'm not parked on grass...

Did I imagen an oil warmer that slides down an oil dipstick hole? Its plugged into 110 over night and keeps the oil nice and warm for cold starts.... IF not. we should damn sure invent one.

 

[Nate08chevy]

Antifreeze gets warm from dissipating the engine heat. AF isn't getting warm before the oil. I just don't see much benefit to longer idling other than comfort in the cab and melting window frost/ice.

I disagree. It takes a long time for oil to come to operating temp. Watch the oil pressure gauge. The pressure will be significantly higher when it’s cold.

 

[OKRuss]

Granted, his landlord may not allow an extension cord out to his vehicle but this should solve everything.

 

[Rez Exelon]

Second this. I have a truck with, let's call it, "coolant issues" and so I keep the info display on the oil/trans/coolant temps. Coolant is always up ahead of oil.

I disagree. It takes a long time for oil to come to operating temp. Watch the oil pressure gauge. The pressure will be significantly higher when it’s cold.

 

[User_3155]

Don't go buy a new vehicle thinking the windshield will defrost any better. My newer GM work truck has a crappier heat / defroster than my personal almost 40 year old K20.

 

[Snattlerake]

I usually strap a vinyl sheet over my windows to fend off the ice. I haven't had a scraper in my hand for 7 years.

 

[Chief Sapulpa]

Card board over the radiator if there's access, does wonders both while sitting and driving, gas or diesel.

...until it gets wet, decomposes and plugs the radiator...

 

[trekrok]

I disagree. It takes a long time for oil to come to operating temp. Watch the oil pressure gauge. The pressure will be significantly higher when it’s cold.

Obviously the oil pressure is higher on cold engine/oil vs warm. Cold weather viscosity and tolerances are what we're talking about here. My point is that the antifreeze has nothing to do with actually heating the engine to operating temp. It will prevent the engine from exceeding operating temp as part of a functioning cooling system, but thats it.

I don't think antifreeze temp has anything to do with how hard a cold start is on a motor.

 

[Patriot918]

...until it gets wet, decomposes and plugs the radiator...

It's funny you say that... Happened to me before. Told my dad about it and he said we'll, dumb*ss, cover the cardboard in packing tape like I told you a million times.

We lived overseas at the time and you couldn't get your car up to operating temp without blocking the rad.