How else to winterize your car.

[realtripp]

I am, of course living in Iowa, which means we can see some fairly cold temps. Driving in these temps can really be a cold proposition at times and I was wondering what other people have done to winterize thier cars.

I have recently put a 195* thermostat in my car, the coolant is topped off and a near perfect 50/50 mix, and have put cardboard over about 1/2 my radiator.

My car will barely see 2 marks on the temp guage, and if I drive at speeds of around 35mph it cools down to where it barely registers anymore.

Ideas anyone?

 

[Ray III]

Keep your heat selector in the full hot position. These cars don't have a coolant flow control valve, you can't stop the coolant from circulating though the heater core. Instead it just meters airflow into the cabin between heater core output and cold air. Point is if you leave it on cold waiting for the engine to warm up you are probably just wasting heat.

Put a block heater on, it needs to be plugged in one to two hours depending how cold it is. It will not get the coolant temp hot enough to register on the gauge but it will considerably warm it up and make heat come on after only a couple minutes of driving and reduce engine wear.

I have rubber wrapped winter wiper blades which will not ice up. You can buy a washer reservoir heater which will help alot in melting ice off the windshield (I don't have one yet). PEAK washer fluid says it is good to minus 35 degrees, I call BS, washer fluid WILL freeze upon contact with the windshield at around 20 below.

Also the little mudflaps to keep trash off the sides of the car and dramatically reduce the chances of rust. You MUST take your car through a carwash (including underbody wash) every other week as well.

Look for cabin drafts that let heat out faster than you can warm it; the doors and their seals cause the greatest leakage if not in proper condition. Check that hinge bushings do not allow sagging, the door vapor barrier is fully airtight, and the rubber seals are good.

As long as we're on the subject of the doors, you can coat the seals with silicone so they will not freeze the door shut, and if you can get the latch mechanisms out it would be a great thing to pack them full of moly grease so they don't seize after freezing rain.

3M makes some kind of 1" foam I think, if you want to go the extra mile and get it inside your doors and under the headliner.

 

[Shawneebear93]

As long as we're on the subject of the doors, you can coat the seals with silicone so they will not freeze the door shut, and if you can get the latch mechanisms out it would be a great thing to pack them full of moly grease so they don't seize after freezing rain.

This happens to me all the time!

 

[kiddiccarus]

I am, of course living in Iowa, which means we can see some fairly cold temps. Driving in these temps can really be a cold proposition at times and I was wondering what other people have done to winterize thier cars.

I have recently put a 195* thermostat in my car, the coolant is topped off and a near perfect 50/50 mix, and have put cardboard over about 1/2 my radiator.

My car will barely see 2 marks on the temp guage, and if I drive at speeds of around 35mph it cools down to where it barely registers anymore.

Ideas anyone?

Mine does the same thing buy gloves!!!!

 

[Shawneebear93]

Mine does the same thing buy gloves!!!!

HaHa I got a few pair of awesome gloves with the grips, too! But it is nice to get your car warm!

 

[freakintiger]

Great tips Ray! I'm now glad I did'nt put in that lower thermostat, I'll wait 'til spring.

 

[Stinger]

Put a piece of cardboard over ~70% of the radiator...it will build heat...if it runs too hot, trim it down a bit and repeat.

 

[Jquintel]

This happens to me all the time!

You can also run some vasoline on your weatherstripping to keep moisture out...
Thx dad for that tip LOL

 

[realtripp]

some great tips here, I did try a bigger piece of cardboard and seems to do the trick. I usually am able to wash my car every other week as we get a warm snap(freezing or a little above) about that often.

I will have to try that stuff about the door seals and the latch mechanisms. Those are some of the biggest problems, especially after washing or a big snow.

The question is more of a consideration for engine operation than personal comfort. I can always wear a coat, along with my jaunty driving gloves and hat.

My 2.3t seems more cold blooded than my 2.3n/a and I like to romp on it and refuse to do so when the engine is cold. So I like to keep my engine in the "Happy Zone" as much as possible.



Oh yeah, I dont really have jaunty driving gloves or a hat.

 

[freakintiger]

...I can always wear a coat, along with my jaunty driving gloves and hat...
...Oh yeah, I dont really have jaunty driving gloves or a hat.

LOL

 

[kiddiccarus]

jaunty???? I drive 40 miles one way to work!

 

[kiddiccarus]

First time!!!!! My Temp Guage made it to half way!!!!!!! Never seen that before in this car.