JayK

Hi there,

I live in Calgary, Alberta Canada. In winter, we always get 1 or 2 weeks where the temperature is -25 C (-18 F) or colder. I've only had the SC430 since June. As far as I can tell it doesn't have a block heater. I park outside at work and have nowhere to plug it in anyway. I use fully synthetic 5W30 oil. Any suggestions for reducing the likelihood of not being able to start it on the coldest days? Thanks!

Gerf

Get an AMA membership.

DshngDaryl

I live in Phoenix, Arizona. It only snows here every 10 years or so, so I am totally making this up...

The SC tends to have a power drain if left un-driven. Some people report it is as short as 7 days. Most people say 2 or 3 weeks.

If I understand correctly from those old "Die Hard Battery" commercials, you need all the cold cranking amps in the wintertime.

I recommend you get an AGM Battery for your car. Even with the battery draw, AGMs tend to allow you to go more days without driving the car. Also, according to this website AGMs are better than flooded batteries in the cold
https://www.batteriesplus.com/blog/p...d-temperatures

GmanSC

If it’s that cold, I wonder if the fuel and related components will be frozen? What Daryl saying is if you can crank the motor the SC will start. I don’t know if it’s true. Only when you are in that cold weather then you will know. Can you cover the SC with some kind of insulation ? It might help.

JayK

Thanks Daryl. Good to know.

JayK

Thanks Gman. The fuel itself and the engine antifreeze won't freeze, but the fuel lines might if there is condensation. I can use an additive that can help with that. I'm not sure about about other components. Do you have any thoughts on what kind of insulation might be worth trying. Battery blankets and engine warming blankets both need to be plugged in. Heated oil dipsticks can cause damage and might actually be illegal in Canada due to fire hazard. Thanks again!

lugnuts

Grew up in upper peninsula of Michigan - terrible cold, lowest was -52 and remember solid week temp never was above -30!!! Dinosar oil at -50 degrees I understand is solid - thus, the great need and answer for "cold" is synthetic oil as it does not have this issue. And as already suggested, AGM battery has taken us from 1 week and battery is dead to 3 weeks with an AGM. Bottom line - believe you're in good shape with synthetic and an AGM with good cold cranking amps as suggested.

Dean2

If you had a place to plug it in, I would say install a block heater, very simple job, just remove the cover on the passenger side and put the block heater in place. Outside of the synthetic oil and a good battery there isn't much more you can do without power.

These cars are designed for Lead Acid, an AGM battery has a different charge profile. The car will work better, especially in cold, with the regular lead acid battery.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...questions.html

Rayzerr

I’m I the only one who finds ironic that while it’s 100 degrees just about everywhere right now, a cold start thread comes back to life. The only cold start I’m worried about right now is twisting off the top of a Miller High Life. Stay cool my SC brethren.

Dean2

Not everywhere. Still going down to freezing here at night, highs of 75. Rain every couple of days, still snowing at night in the mountains and foothills. Frost overnight some days.

Really nice weather for June in Edmonton.

Rayzerr

good luck tomorrow 🏆

OBP

What I would give to have frost overnight and a high of 75 in northern NJ these days ....

OBP

BTW - a trickle charger helps a lot for the battery - my interstate battery is now probably 6 years old and going strong. Whenever the car is not driven for a few days, the trickle charger goes on. The batteries for my 2014 and 2015 MBs are from the factory, never changed since new. Trickle charged whenever not used for say a week or so.