[AJD] Physics 101

[Steve W.]

First make sure you run the cheaper lower octane fuel (unless your
running a high performance car that HAS to have the higher octane stuff)
The lower octane will atomize better and will light off better in cold
weather.
Second make sure the vehicle is in as good of condition as possible,
good battery / plug / wires / cap / rotor / clean air filter.
Third change the oil to good synthetic oil and if possible the others as
well (trans,rear end transfer case)
Fourth you have a plug in heater BUT does it work? It should get the
engine warm enough that you can feel it.
In VERY cold weather toss an old blanket over the hood to hold in all
the heat possible. This applies even if your vehicle is in an unheated
garage.
Install a battery blanket OR a small trickle charger ( I use a small
unit that mounts under the hood, it plugs in at the same time as the
heater.

The problem with most engines starting at low temps are due to poor fuel
atomization and low cranking speeds. Unless there is a mechanical
problem in one of the systems (rusty grounds, poor connections) it
should start. I even have a heater and trickle charger on my Cub Cadet
so I can blow snow. Makes a big difference.


Steve Williams



----- Original Message ----- 
From: <nick_solomon at infostations.com>
To: "Antique John Deere mailing list"
<antique-johndeere at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2005 4:40 PM
Subject: Re: [AJD] Physics 101


> My gal put her car in a ditch a few weeks back at 10 at night and was
> going to have to be back to work at 8 in the morning, so I went to
crank
> up my '47 model b, and I don't think I could have started it for all
the
> money in the world. it was -23f actual air temp. to be honest, my
other
> car wouldent even start the next morning and it had been plugged in to
all
> night as well... I guess that once it gets past a certain point some
> engines won't run? I don't know.... being from Ca this Minnesota
weather
> is really eye opening.....
>
> can any body give me any tips for extreme cold (-20F or colder)
operation
> of engines? aside from the obvious of using a nice thin oil?
> Nick Solomon
>
> > What is the physics behind our old treasures being harder to start
in cold
> > weather?
> >
> > Is the ignition system affected by the cold?
> > Is the fuel mixture somehow different?
> > Is it harder to burn the fuel mixture enclosed by cold iron?
> > The physical effects of the thickened oils are obvious, but are
there
> > other
> > issues with oils as well?
> > What about air intake?  Any changes there?  Am I more likely to suck
a
> > glob
> > of oil from the breather into the carb during cold weather?
> > Aside from the obvious effects from freezing, does the coolant
system
> > behave
> > differently during cold weather?
> >
> > My old John Deere tends to wake up pretty well on a cold morning,
about as
> > well as I do, but the definition of cold here in Texas is different
than
> > it
> > is elsewhere.
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > Cal B.
> > Nacogdoches, Texas
> >
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> >
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