Cold Weather Question
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 121
Likes: 27
From: Bethesda, MD
Cold Weather Question
With the current and future - somewhat unprecedented low temperatures here in the east - I wanted to know how to keep my car as "heathy" as possible. While my condominium garage is covered - it is exposed to the outside temperatures. I do not have access to a power supply for a battery tender. As the snow and slop will keep me from driving the car for perhaps up to a week - is it better to go out to the garage and start/run the car for 5/10 min or do nothing at all? When cold and driving - I always drive off right away after starting vs waiting to warm up as I understand cold idling not good for the vehicle. I am asking within the context of current circumstances of single degree temps and whether going out and starting it up and running for a few minutes periodically - will do more harm than good.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,814
Likes: 189
From: Chicago
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 185
Likes: 94
From: Gates Mills, Ohio
With the current and future - somewhat unprecedented low temperatures here in the east - I wanted to know how to keep my car as "heathy" as possible. While my condominium garage is covered - it is exposed to the outside temperatures. I do not have access to a power supply for a battery tender. As the snow and slop will keep me from driving the car for perhaps up to a week - is it better to go out to the garage and start/run the car for 5/10 min or do nothing at all? When cold and driving - I always drive off right away after starting vs waiting to warm up as I understand cold idling not good for the vehicle. I am asking within the context of current circumstances of single degree temps and whether going out and starting it up and running for a few minutes periodically - will do more harm than good.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,463
Likes: 1,221
From: Canada
I wonder if you can invest in an external rechargeable battery that you attach a tender to and use the setup to top up your car's battery while it is sitting? You could recharge that battery and repeat once every couple of week? It can't be good to let the battery run completely flat, even though a jump start would get you going.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2025
Posts: 241
Likes: 349
From: SE Pennsylvania
One nice thing about it being very cold, the roads were dry and I was able to drive my car the day before the storm even though there was still snow on the ground everywhere but on the road. I'm in SE Pennsylvania.
I also went out one day in pouring rain one day when there had been a break in the cold. I hit every puddle I could to rinse my car in a bath of rain water. I was amazed how clean my wheels were, even inside the barrels! That's a nice thing about when spring comes. You can get pretty clean in pouring rain and puddles.
I also went out one day in pouring rain one day when there had been a break in the cold. I hit every puddle I could to rinse my car in a bath of rain water. I was amazed how clean my wheels were, even inside the barrels! That's a nice thing about when spring comes. You can get pretty clean in pouring rain and puddles.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,463
Likes: 1,221
From: Canada
One nice thing about it being very cold, the roads were dry and I was able to drive my car the day before the storm even though there was still snow on the ground everywhere but on the road. I'm in SE Pennsylvania.
I also went out one day in pouring rain one day when there had been a break in the cold. I hit every puddle I could to rinse my car in a bath of rain water. I was amazed how clean my wheels were, even inside the barrels! That's a nice thing about when spring comes. You can get pretty clean in pouring rain and puddles.
I also went out one day in pouring rain one day when there had been a break in the cold. I hit every puddle I could to rinse my car in a bath of rain water. I was amazed how clean my wheels were, even inside the barrels! That's a nice thing about when spring comes. You can get pretty clean in pouring rain and puddles.
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Three Wheelin'
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,814
Likes: 189
From: Chicago
You won't need tire cradles in 2026. If you store the car for a couple months, just increase pressure a couple of PSI. It'll be fine. Tire cradles are from 50yrs ago...
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,463
Likes: 1,221
From: Canada
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2024
Posts: 78
Likes: 148
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,463
Likes: 1,221
From: Canada
An even better idea than a spare 12V battery with CTEK sitting in the car. How long do you think it would take deep the battery topped up with a float charger? ( guess it depends on the model.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2024
Posts: 78
Likes: 148
Just bring your portable battery in the morning, shove it on the passenger seat, hook the charger up (with the proper procedure), and grab it back in the evening. Do that once a week or every two weeks and that's more than enough to survive winter.
Race Car
Joined: Aug 2020
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[QUOTE=Deerfield;20423800] I do not have access to a power supply for a battery tender. As the snow and slop will keep me from driving the car for perhaps up to a week - is it better to go out to the garage and start/run the car for 5/10 min or do nothing at all? QUOTE]
Research solar powered battery tenders or a rechargeable power supply like a Jackery. You only need 1 - 1.5 amps for a maintainer. Never idle the car without driving it to bring oil up to operating temps. Allowing cold start to cycle in cold temps is OK but drive as soon as rpm drops.
Research solar powered battery tenders or a rechargeable power supply like a Jackery. You only need 1 - 1.5 amps for a maintainer. Never idle the car without driving it to bring oil up to operating temps. Allowing cold start to cycle in cold temps is OK but drive as soon as rpm drops.
