How to Winterize Your Car EcoModder Style
 

With winter fast approaching we're seeing our MPG drop off. This is normal. You will get lower mileage in winter, its just physics. However, there are a few things you can do to fight it. Here are my winterization list. It includes ecomods and general winterization tips.


Use a block heater.
In colder weather it takes even longer for your engine to warm up. A block heater can totally negate this penalty of winter. It also gets you heat a heck of a lot sooner! Put it on a timer to reduce electricity useage.


Install or beef up your grill block.
Last winter I ran my Matrix with a FULL grill block. The upper and lower grills were both completely blocked off and I never had any problems with coolant temps spiking at all. Depending on your climate, you might be able to do the same. The more you can block off the faster your warm up times will be and the more aerodynamic your vehicle becomes.


Use thinner oil if possible.
Some manufacturers specify thinner oil to be used at colder temperatures. Check your manual to see if you can run thinner oil. This will help your car start easier in the cold and reduce power losses to friction in the engine especially during warm up.


Use an 110V AC heater to preheat your cabin.
If you like jumping into a warmed up car, don't go out and idle your car or use a remote start. A better way is to go pickup a small space heater. Plug it in 10 minutes before you go to get into a nice warm car. If you don't even want to go out into the cold, I saw some remote plug units the other day at the store for turning on Christmas lights. Warm your car from the comfort of your home without using gas!


Get those snow tires on.
If you live in an especially snowy area, winter tires can literally be a life saver. Last year was the first year I've used snow tires, and I was very happy I put them on. My wife drives around a lot for her job, so its good to know she can get around better than before.

However, you will take a hit in rolling resistance when going to a snow tire. They are generally made from a softer rubber that will increase rolling resistance. Add that to the fact that they're made to grip in snow and you have a tire that isn't the most MPG friendly. So, this is your call. Just make sure to be safe out there.


Adjust tire pressure.
Again, this will be your call. Higher tire pressure is pretty much great for spring through fall. Its downside is definitly winter though. A hard tire is not going to mold well to an uneven surface like a snow covered road. So, it is advisable to think about decreasing tire pressure in the winter. You don't have to lower it a ton, just find a pressure you are comfortable with.


What do you guys do to prepare for winter?

Excellent post, Daox.
Got my block heater ordered, but it's back ordered. :mad:
Upper grille block installed. :thumbup:
Wasn't thinking lower grille block until now. Hmmm.
Thanks!

Any advice for dealing with frost?

Dig out the cross-country ski wax, and the dog's skijoring harness :-) And make sure I've got my firewood in. Don't do much to the car: I keep the radiator blocks (just pieces of coroplast) handy for those long downhill runs from 8500 ft. Even in summer, the coolant temp will drop to under 140 F without one. And in fall temps, it takes at least 10 miles of driving on the level at 55+ to get up to full operating temp.

On the subject of block heaters, what types are effective and what aren't? The one Honda supplies is kinda strange, and I know there's also one that fits into a freeze plug. Either way, I'm not too thrilled about the idea of draining the coolant.

Fitted (jammed in, friction fit!!) a warm/hot air intake: temp needle comes up to temp in 2 to 3 minutes. In 0c air i was getting 15c air to the intake this morning.
Am going to fit a door to block off the radiator completely but be remotely activated from the cabin. I mentioned this before here but never got around to it...:o
Also going to seal up gaps around headlights etc. to keep engine bay air warm.
This weekend hopefully....:D

ollie

The traditional Winter setup:

• Move the intake source to warmer air from the exhaust manifold
• Additional/lengthened use of the EBH
• Rad block + possible partial undertray
• Change the transmission fluid (transitioning to synth)
• I leave the tire pressure the same @ 50 PSI (only problem has been black ice -- but what tire can handle that?)
• Warmer clothing to allow full operating temp before heater demand (touchy TC lockup based on temps)

I may have to add a new batt to the list...

RH77

I've been meaning to put a squeegee in my car...

So it doesn't exactly freeze in Central Florida... But the every morning there's a heavy coat of condensation from the temperature change and humidity... Use to wipe the rear glass so the defroster isn't needed. More convenience than anything :p

I also put, as girlie as it sounds, cozies on my bike's brake levers - because it's a terrible feeling to squeeze icy cold aluminum in the morning. I'm also knitting a cycling scarf - I really don't like riding in the cold, but if I can keep the wind off, it's nice :D

You mean on the outside of the glass? A blanket/cardboard/something on the windshield is a common trick I see used.

I'll second going to synthetic lubricants all around for anyone living in a cold winter climate.

Aren't cozies on your fingers - eg. mitties or gloves - easier to do? :)

Potentially :p I'm too cheap to buy them (and not skilled enough to make)... And the only things I've found used are too bulky - I really don't like riding desensitized like :p

I've got a large piece of vinyl fabric that I use for the windshield. So far, it's never failed at keeping frost/ice/snow buildup off the windshield. It's large enough that it covers the entire windshield, and I lock it into my front doors, top to bottom, and use 3 rare earth magnets to hold it down. 40mph gusts haven't removed it with that setup (although some snow does blow under).

Highly recommended, as with a block heater and the cover, you can drive away after 15 seconds (assuming adequate block heater warmup time).

I used to have a snow and ice windshield cover that attached with suction cups to the inside of the windshield. I am going to look for another one. It was years ago that I had it. It did work good.

In the past I have used a piece of aluminum flashing on the windshield by running the windshield wipers to the vertical position and then just place the flashing underneath them to hold it in place. Flashing is also thin enough you can just roll it back up and stick it in the back until you park the car that night. I have some de-icer I bought at the end of the winter last year when it went on clearance and so far this year I have just been spraying 2 or three sprays on the drivers side then getting in and turning on the wipers and that is clearing it pretty well.

I just picked up another one at Wally World for like 6 bucks and some change.

Sadly, The MIazda is winterized a little differently. Fuel stabalizer added, tires pumped up, oil changed, put up on jacks, battery trickle charger attached, and fully covered, not to see the rosd again until spring.:(

I'll be driving the Dakota thru the winter. I have to change it's oil(just happens to be time), put 2x4 frame back into the bed--I then put buckets of water with snap on covers into it for ballast when snow driving--it's 2wd and would have no snow traction otherwise.

The radiator is already blocked, but I'd like to get my grille block made also. I'm also thinking that the radiator fan is going to be removed--I wanted to add an electric model anyway.

I have a big problem with frost on the *inside* of my glass. No, I don't have a leaky heater core, I just prefer not to run the heat in my car.

Scraping the interior glass works poorly, since it's concave, and ice scrapers are flat. I've tried RainX Interior Glass Anti-Fog, which is helpful but doesn't last long. Leaving a window ajar works great, unless it snows.

Does anyone else have this problem?

I only have this problem when I forget to close a window, and the car sits all night when we get frost in the summer. With all the windows closed, no frost on the inside. Wintertime does not matter so much, the air is so dry I never get frost.

Try using the edge of a flexible plastic card - like a credit card.

I agree, it works well for both inside and out. The rental car company failed to provide a scraper, so I used their frequent-renter card. This week.

Back to my ride -- I put the cardboard block back into place between the condenser and radiator. In the -5F to +15F temps, it worked very well. I could actually use the heat in the car! Toasty is good.

But, I had a usually crappy Winter tank. Plowing through the snow and low temps took a toll. 31.13 MPG. Ouch. To add "In-Salt" to injury, someone bumped the mirror in the parking lot and the glass is hanging on by one pivot point. I can't get it to stick again :( Out comes the clear packing tape! I won't comment on how it got weakened by hitting the garage 2 years ago, but it worked since!

Well, a new tank holds new possibilities, so onward...

RH77

Set your temp slider to about halfway between hot/cold, and when turn your heater controls to defrost when you park. When you shut the car off, there will be a small airflow "leak" through the open vents that will allow inside air and outside air to mix at the windshield.

Just remember to turn off before starting car to reduce electrical load.

Some spammer bumped a thread that had a link to this one, so I decided to bump it. I don't know about you guys, but I've already had to scrape my windshield a half dozen times now. So, its getting to be time to look at this stuff.

BTW, any new ideas out there?

On Teggy, there's a about a 12"x2" removable plastic gap above the battery, in the wiper "parking area". I removed it this past summer to let the engine bay breathe a bit.

Since the weather has been cold then warm again this Fall, I have noticed heat waves from the opening and felt significant hot air movement while stationary.

I haven't had a day of frost to test the theory or to melt frost/ice/snow, but if the opening's air is directed toward the driver's side, or a similar gap made on the other side, it may be a way to move waste heat onto the windshield (granted, you would have to protect underhood components).

Another variable is what exactly happens to that region of the vehicle at speed? In my limited understanding of aero, I recall that the wiper area tends to trap air -- so it may be moot as you drive.

All of this depends on a warm engine.

_______________________________________

On a side note, I had to get the "As Seen on TV" windshield cleaner :p

http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL69.../378894337.jpg

It doubles as a defogger of sorts so the inside stays clear.

RH77

RH77 -

I almost impulsed-bought those last week, but my co-worker said I could use a swiffer arrangement instead. The line at Fry's was humungous, so the impulse passed. The defogger part is a good point.

CarloSW2

Make sure your cabin air filter is clean.
 

For those of you with Cabin air filters. A clogged filter can cause more internal fogging problems than a clean filter. I would believe that it reduces the natural flow of air through the cabin from the pressure differantial.

My sister had this problem, not realizing she had a cabin air filter. She replaced it & has very little fog anymore.

Don

2 yards of felt backed vinyl. Covers the whole windshield. Got grey to match the car. Need to get red for the truck. Tends to cost a bit more, but looks good. Placing cardboard or aluminum flashing under the wipers defeats one of the primary ways the windshield stays clear: cowl heat from the engine. Where is your air intake? draws air from the cowl. If that's covered in snow, you'll never have a clear windshield.

Cover the windshield, cover the wipers, cover the cowl. Three fold bonus: clear windshield in all temps and precipitations, clean wipers should you need them, and heat is radiated up through the cowl to further heat the windshield (you did leave it on while cleaning the snow right?)

Recently, I had a thicker layer of ice on the inside than on the outside. This was because of a combination of weather (very cold, then freezing rain, then very cold again) and short local trips which didn't get the engine warmed up. Car sleeps outside, so leaving a window open is out of the question, and the only access I have to a heated (= above freezing) garage is a week in the middle of summer.

The coolant heater helps by reducing idling times when everything is frozen over, but I've recently found out that idling may never give me enough heat. I've though about covering the windshield from the outside, but is it possible for cardboard or vinyl to freeze to the glass?

As for the inside, whenever I drive I just keep the air fan on max to push as much air out of the cabin as possible. And I hold my breath;)

EDIT: Covering the windshield with cardboard/vinyl will cover up my little solar trickle charger, just when I need it most:(

It will if it freezes hard. I threw an old yoga mat over the window once and the bits that did come off left a lovely ice print on the glass that i had to scrape off. Now i use some coroplast with cuts in it to follow the curve. There is enough room for my solar charger, not that it gets much sun nowadays!

In my eternal quest for an engine heater i found this:engine preheater block heater coolant heater HOT FROG on eBay (end time 18-Dec-10 11:29:32 GMT)
Now thats what i'm talking about!! Must put the pennies away for one.

To heat the engine faster, I don't turn on the heater. I realized that the heat that goes into the cabin is sucked from the engine, so it can't warm up. I've done that just today, and the engine got to it's normal temp quickly, as opposed to not at all.

I think this depends on a few parameters - engine type and size, outdoor temperature, how much heat you want/need, etc. A few members here have reported no or negligible difference, while in my idling experiment turning the heat from OFF to MAX dropped the coolant temperature from 65°C to 55°C (149°F to 131°F).

When it gets real cold in winter (around 0F) I can actually cool my Paseo's engine with just my heater, and it has a full grill block.

Good to know. I'm not running snow tires this year but I have allot of tread on my all seasons about 90% seeing as I drive allot into a snow belt area its a bit of a gamble. For engine heating I put a set of plug in seat warmers in to keep me and my passenger warm. This way I avoid running the heater and my car heats up up about 5 min of driving. I keep the tire pressure at normal rates as again snow grip is important. However I am seeing mid to high 600km per tank again so I must be doing something right lol.

For the frost issue I just scrape away at the windshield and put the rear defroster on I noticed that in some cases an open window dose not fog up the windshield so on some ocasions I will drive with the driver and passenger windows open a bit to help de-fog the window. Good gloves help with the cold lol, and being a bit crazy too ;).

It is that time of year again...

I just had to scrape my windows for the 2nd time this year today. Loving my 1000W block heater on the 1.2L engine on the Mirage. 20 minutes gets it up to 90F. :)

This is the one I'm using, and its even pretty cheap right now on Amazon, only $37.66. Its usually about $45-50.

1000W kats block heater on Amazon

Dont you guys have interior heaters connected to your block heater cable?
Pretty common at least in finland, probably a lot of other countries too.
Pretty handy especially when used with a timer clock:thumbup:
Here's a link to a picture of the heater i'm talking about.
https://static1.motonet.fi/img/4/455031/500/455031.jpg

I put a space heater in my car.
Just plug it in as soon as I wake up.

'Tis the season indeed. I just put my full grille block back on. It's perfect for the 5 mile drive to work when I'm too lazy to bike, but too much for longer drives when it isn't super-cold out. I'm working on a configurable grille block with openings that can be covered with Velcro-clad squares.

https://ecomodder.com/forum/emgarage...a21179b973.jpg

Haven't busted out the block heater yet. I don't usually bother until temps are consistently below freezing, although I know it can help all year. :)

Regarding inside windshield frost, someone (Piwoslaw???) somewhere suggested to lay silicagel in a sock on the dashboard. I cannot find the thread though. (but I collect silicagel bags ever since)

On such a short trip, a block heater would really help reduce high idle and thus fuel consumption.

Nice grill block!

I have to get mine fully blocked off in not too long I think too.

This thread? https://ecomodder.com/forum/showthre...ows-15901.html

i've been procrastinating in doing mine. Now that it has been getting cold up here too, already scraping windshield, every morning at/or near 32f... Ratz! I guess it's time.
:{)