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Last night it got down to -20°C (-4°F) here, in our small outpost near the North-Pole... ...and the car started really well this morning. We are down to -24°C (-10°F) as of right now, so I expect a record low tonight for a december night.

I'm curious to see if the car will continue performing well this winter. Last winter it ran very well, but we also got an unusually mild winter. Does any of you guys from the the prairies (or anywhere esle where we get real winter) have any solid winter experience with the RA? Should I get a block heater installed this winter?

Maybe I'm just pushing my luck not having one... but it seems to run very well in the cold so far.

Oh, and to the guys (yeah, you!) who are laying around on the beach right now... f*ck you b*tches!

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ahhhhhh.....So Cal....

 

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I've never really needed my block heater, because I have a garage. I did use it on a couple of cold days last winter when it was outside at work - didn't really need it though.

A block heater is a good idea, starting a frozen engine is not very good for it. Using synthetic helps.

If you have the garage then you could get away with out it. In Calgary we get some warmer days during our winters. (We're a little further form the pole than you, LOL)

 

Yes, the car can handle the cold starts decently. But seriously, you're doing more damage to the vehicle than you have to every time you cold start it when it's so frickin' cold. I never think about cold starting my car when it's under -15C without it being plugged in. Get the block heater....for longevity and peace-of-mind.

 

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Yeah... I'm still hesitating. I hate having this ridiculous cord just hanging from the front of the car... it looked so stupid on my Integra. The synthetic oil is not a bad suggestion... I've been playing with the idea since I bought the car anyway (the Teg ran on blend the whole time I had it).


I wouldn't bet on that... we're awfully close to the US border (30 mins or so). Now, where I'm originally from (Abitibi, in north-western Quebec), now that's a damn cold place! Got down to -30 almost every other night in january and february! The Prelude didn't like that very much... and it had the nasty habit of just dying when I drove it at night and it got to about -35! Pretty scary I can tell you! Even with anti-freeze in the tank, I would always be a bit worried when it got really cold.

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jst go and get the block heater...better safe than sorry right?

 

What he said... I live in a climate where the average winter temperature is +2 celcius (35 ish F) so I don't need one, but if I still lived where it got to below -20 I would definitely have one. I still let my car warm up all the time though, remote start kicks ***

 

haha, no lower than 87 degrees F here year round in guam!!!!

 

We only have one plug-in at our apt and I normally get it but one day last year during a VISCIOUS cold spell (so viscious in fact the plastic cracked and split on the front lip and a piece popped right out...that's another story) someone was in my spot and I couldn't plug in and despite the fact that it was -54C with the wind, she still started. Gave some heartbreaking growls, but she turned over. Broke my heart, but good to know, if ever in a crunch, she'll still start up. Otherwise, I'm a big supporter of the ugly plug hanging out.

 

ill just say that my car is clean, salt free and im in shorts smoking a cigar looking at the bright sun tanning my belly and drinking a lot of beer...lol











oh and the car is performing great!

 

Would it be a pita to take it on and off?

There was a week already with the temp around -5 F at night, but the car turned over fine, it sounded a bit sluggish but she did.

 

never needed a block heater.. although it takes a while for my car to warm up, especially the clutch... But yea I drove the car the other day at 10 degree's F and the car ran so smoothly it was amazing.

 

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Well, not to dimiss most of your comments guys... but just like JRalli, I used to live way up North and will still visit from time to time. So I suppose I will get a block heather and suck it up look-wise. But then again, being able to take it off might not be that hard... I may ask them to install it with a really short cord that would not stick out, then add a short extension cord so it reaches the outside of the engine bay. As soon as the month of march arrives, I get rid of the extension cord and there you have it, no stupid cord sticking out anymore...

Thanksfor the comments guys... and please update the thread if you encounter any kind of problems in the cold with your RA.

Although, you guys with super-cold 10°F nights ( ) will never encounter any problems... I would have thought it could become a problem close to -35, like for some other cars though. But knowing it survived -50°C (something like -58°F I think) shows that we don't have much to fear as far as starting the engine in the morning. There's still the issue of wear though... that's why I will probably give up and get a block heather anyway.

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BTW the car pulls real good this week... I feel like it's gained 10HP all of a sudden! Nice, cold and dry air has it's advantages sometimes...

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