The Car Talk Thread

[haulinbass]

Its more to do with the engine block tollerances getting too tight or your batt freezing. Your engine wont turn over because the pistons or crank cant spin. Btw you dont get heated dipsticks you get block heaters, coolant heaters or battery blankets. Fyi mobil1 euro 0-40 is the tits for oils hot or cold.

 

[Sunbiz1]

Its more to do with the engine block tollerances getting too tight or your batt freezing. Your engine wont turn over because the pistons or crank cant spin. Btw you dont get heated dipsticks you get block heaters, coolant heaters or battery blankets. Fyi mobil1 euro 0-40 is the tits for oils hot or cold.

TY, in your opinion which of the 2 would work best with a battery blanket...coolant or block heater?.

 

[haulinbass]

Block heaters are alot easier to instal. I dont know if the coolant heaters/recyclers can be installed aftermarket. Both my newer fords have the recirculating pump and coolant heaters, they say they only need to be plugged in four hours at minus 30 celcius but i leave mine plugged in all night.

 

[Sunbiz1]

Block heaters are alot easier to instal. I dont know if the coolant heaters/recyclers can be installed aftermarket. Both my newer fords have the recirculating pump and coolant heaters, they say they only need to be plugged in four hours at minus 30 celcius but i leave mine plugged in all night.

I found one. Had trouble locating the part at first b/c most suppliers call them freeze or frost plugs.

Cool, you just plug the thing right in. As for the battery, mine comes out in less than a minute...can simply store it indoors.

 

[TheBeardedStoner]

Well boys I really hate to say it, I mean we all know how much I love my dubs, but I need to buy a 4 wheel drive truck.

Looks like I'm going shopping after work tomorrow, spotted a decent looking 5 speed 4wd ranger, they only want $2300 and it seems to be in good shape.

 

[racerboy71]

Well boys I really hate to say it, I mean we all know how much I love my dubs, but I need to buy a 4 wheel drive truck.

Looks like I'm going shopping after work tomorrow, spotted a decent looking 5 speed 4wd ranger, they only want $2300 and it seems to be in good shape.

Unfriended. Lol, j/k, or is it??

 

[racerboy71]

Just wanted to wish Michael Schumacher a happy 45th bday..
Hope you get well soon..

 

[TheBeardedStoner]

Well guys, I purchased the Ranger today, not out of desire, but out of necessity.
No need to fret RB I've still got my dubs, Mk3 still in the OR and the GTI, well, it's gonna be taking it easy in the garage for a while.
I hate to do it, but it simply despises being driven in the snow and ice.

Few good things to mention about the Ranger though, only has 63,XXX(shocked the hell out of me for being an 03), and it makes cruising snowy mountain backroads exponentially less trecherous.

That being said, come spring time, my VWs are definitely coming out to play.

 

[haulinbass]

I have a ranger or two as well, does yours have the 4banger, 3l or 4l motor? Im assuming its 4wd as a rear wheel drive truck is 10x worse than a fwd car in the snow and ice lol. You should look into a coilover conversion or long travel kit for the front end and a decent set of rear shocks with some deaver rear leafs with flipped hangers and you would be absolutely shocked by how hard you can push the truck through the fast rough stuff. The best part is its a fleet truck so parts are everywhere and dirt cheap lol. Throw on a set of 265/75 r16 or 31-33 inch tires if you have 15 inch rims stick in in 4lo and its pretty hard to get these things stuck.
.

 

[Grandpapy]

I have a car question. When stored outdoors, how low do temps have to go to require a heated dipstick etc.?

We're going below zero next week, and staying there for a while.

Happy New Year!

I like coolant heaters for ease of replacement, but spending 5 years in ND this was best. It worked when power co. didn't or couldn't.


(wont let me enlarge...)
10 min under the oil pan and good to go! (use common sense) and a light motor oil will get you going again after the motor has cooled.
Dont forget about your windshield washer tank and pump! those things can be $$$

 

[GreatwhiteNorth]

When I lived in the interior of Alaska I had a buddy that lived in the bush with no electricity - on those brutal cold nights (minus 30 & colder) he would remove the battery & drain the oil out of his truck and take it in the house.

In the morning he'd lay a sleeping bag over the hood & stick a coffee can of coals (from the woodstove) under the pan. After an hour or so he'd replace the battery, pour in the oil & away he'd go.

It's an ordeal, that's for sure.

 

[haulinbass]

I like coolant heaters for ease of replacement, but spending 5 years in ND this was best. It worked when power co. didn't or couldn't.

View attachment 2951073
(wont let me enlarge...)
10 min under the oil pan and good to go! (use common sense) and a light motor oil will get you going again after the motor has cooled.
Dont forget about your windshield washer tank and pump! those things can be $$$

Haha thats how we start cats, track hoes and shit sitting in the bush for months, i like the newer units with fire burners built in but holding the torc at fifty below is the best way in that weather.

 

[MrEDuck]

Goddamn I'm cold just thinking about all that.

 

[Unclebaldrick]

Keeping good thoughts for Schumi.
Unclebaldrick even a Lotus Elise can carry a pound. Provided its not too fluffy.
I don't really know anything about crossovers because fuck large cars but a Mazda 3 or a Subaru Impreza would be my top choices.

The 'about a pound' thing was a joke. Been looking at the Mazda CX5. Still a little thing. I like the drive train, on paper at least. Stupid name, but a 13/1 compression on 87 octane seems impressive. Have not owned an automatic since a 72 Riv in the 80s. Seems like almost everything in the class pretty much forces you into one. Never owned a Japanese car but have a favorable impression of their technical capabilities. Any thoughts on Mazda overall?

Planning on using it for a lot of long distance driving hauling samples. Really don't want something that drives like a minivan.

 

[Sunbiz1]

I like coolant heaters for ease of replacement, but spending 5 years in ND this was best. It worked when power co. didn't or couldn't.

View attachment 2951073
(wont let me enlarge...)
10 min under the oil pan and good to go! (use common sense) and a light motor oil will get you going again after the motor has cooled.
Dont forget about your windshield washer tank and pump! those things can be $$$

This reminds of a funny story from back in the 80's, when I owned a 73' Dodge Challenger. I was running 20W oil in it when temps dropped about 50 degrees. The car was parked nowhere near any power source, and the oil was of course frozen solid.

Sooooo, I decided to improvise with a small charcoal grill...started a BBQ right under the car and used cardboard as a wind block. I was amazed nobody even called the fire department, looked like I was smoking a hog in the street.

But it worked, started right up.

 

[dannyboy602]

[video=youtube;JV-XEiUOjYE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JV-XEiUOjYE[/video]LOL...the trunk monkey

 

[MrEDuck]

The 'about a pound' thing was a joke. Been looking at the Mazda CX5. Still a little thing. I like the drive train, on paper at least. Stupid name, but a 13/1 compression on 87 octane seems impressive. Have not owned an automatic since a 72 Riv in the 80s. Seems like almost everything in the class pretty much forces you into one. Never owned a Japanese car but have a favorable impression of their technical capabilities. Any thoughts on Mazda overall?

Planning on using it for a lot of long distance driving hauling samples. Really don't want something that drives like a minivan.

I'm aware thatabout a pound is always a joke around here. I was joking around as well. Guess I should have used a smiley.
I've really liked every Mazda I've driven but I've never driven anything bigger than a midsize sedan from them.
I'm pretty sure you can get a proper transmission in a Subaru of that size still.

 

[BarnBuster]

Most Japanese cars are pretty reliable now.

 

[Sunbiz1]

Most Japanese cars are pretty reliable now.

I have a Prius and a Chevy, guess which one causes me less problems?...the Toyota of course. The Chevy already had tie rod ends go out at 50K...WTF?. That shouldn't happen until long after the tranny dies.

Hardest part is finding a mechanic good with hybrids, no way I'm paying dealership labor rates(which once I had no choice on)yet the majority of mechanics are not up to speed w/the new tech.

 

[ScoobyDoobyDoo]

i love toyota's. i've had several of them over the years and to be honest they are the most reliable trucks i've had. in the states i had a dodge ram for a while then switched to a tundra last year. here in costa rica (and all of central america) toyota is huge. they are by far the most popular cars and trucks. they have a ton of models that they don't even sell in the u.s. like my 4 cylinder turbo diesel hilux. best truck in my opinion. mid-sized, dependable, easy to repair. the inside could use a little more "luxury" but it's a pickup truck so who really cares.