Warming up your car during winter in Canada
Evolving Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: Edmonton, Alberta
Well lately since it's been about -20 celcius in the mornings I've been letting the car idle about 5-6 min, takes that long to clear the snow and frost anyways.
Karan,
You have a block heater? Northside Mits told me it was a waste of money because of new technology the car doesn't need one however, if it's ever too cold to start I'll be calling them to get it started and then have them throw in a block heater for free.
Karan,
You have a block heater? Northside Mits told me it was a waste of money because of new technology the car doesn't need one however, if it's ever too cold to start I'll be calling them to get it started and then have them throw in a block heater for free.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,362
Likes: 1
From: the land between lancer and evo
lol i wish it was a requirement but i doubt it.
Its really a users option, putting in a block heater cuts down on the wait time. But you could also invest in a car starter as well.
Its really a users option, putting in a block heater cuts down on the wait time. But you could also invest in a car starter as well.
Evolving Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: Canada, Quebec !!
lol heater are certainly not an obligation, even snow tire are not a requirement ! (at least here in quebec), you can even still use the ultra crappy 4 season to paddle in the 4inch snow on our road, so heater ? what a joke 
Evolved Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 721
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From: Edmonton, Canada
Right 
I guess they offer block heaters and winter tires for the rest of us who dont want to overburden our engines and risk wrecking the car or injuring someone in a collision, using tires which are clearly not designed for severe winter conditions.
But yeah you're right, what a joke.
I guess they offer block heaters and winter tires for the rest of us who dont want to overburden our engines and risk wrecking the car or injuring someone in a collision, using tires which are clearly not designed for severe winter conditions.But yeah you're right, what a joke.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,362
Likes: 1
From: the land between lancer and evo
Right I guess they offer block heaters and winter tires for the rest of us who dont want to overburden our engines and risk wrecking the car or injuring someone in a collision, using tires which are clearly not designed for severe winter conditions.
But yeah you're right, what a joke.
I guess they offer block heaters and winter tires for the rest of us who dont want to overburden our engines and risk wrecking the car or injuring someone in a collision, using tires which are clearly not designed for severe winter conditions.But yeah you're right, what a joke.
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Edmonton, AB
That's why if I ever have car trouble they will be putting one in for free. When I bought the car I asked to have one put in and they told me that I didn't need one so if my car ever does not start I'll be calling road side assistance and then having one installed curtesy of Northside.
That's why if I ever have car trouble they will be putting one in for free. When I bought the car I asked to have one put in and they told me that I didn't need one so if my car ever does not start I'll be calling road side assistance and then having one installed curtesy of Northside.
Evolved Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 721
Likes: 0
From: Edmonton, Canada
Hmm yeah I hope you dont get screwed over this. During the sale, you gotta get them to write down every little detail on the invoice otherwise they conveniently "forget" to give it later. 
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Edmonton
I bought mine from west side mitsu and they told me the same thing, that we don't need a block heater.
Strangely enough southside said they have block heaters installed after getting the cars shipped to their dealership.
West side told me that mitsu guarantees starting up to -50 C
Experiencing both dealers (made a purchase from each), I found west side to be more truthful and upfront about everything compared to south side.
Strangely enough southside said they have block heaters installed after getting the cars shipped to their dealership.
West side told me that mitsu guarantees starting up to -50 C
Experiencing both dealers (made a purchase from each), I found west side to be more truthful and upfront about everything compared to south side.
Evolving Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: Edmonton, Alberta
I bought mine from west side mitsu and they told me the same thing, that we don't need a block heater.
Strangely enough southside said they have block heaters installed after getting the cars shipped to their dealership.
West side told me that mitsu guarantees starting up to -50 C
Experiencing both dealers (made a purchase from each), I found west side to be more truthful and upfront about everything compared to south side.
Strangely enough southside said they have block heaters installed after getting the cars shipped to their dealership.
West side told me that mitsu guarantees starting up to -50 C
Experiencing both dealers (made a purchase from each), I found west side to be more truthful and upfront about everything compared to south side.
My GTS came with a block heater installed (and I bought it from Southside).
Evolving Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: Qc , Canada
30 seconds to a minute is enough to warm up the car with synthethic oil even mineral . When you start the car cold it idles at like 1500-2000 Rpm so what the hell is the difference between your car moving or staying in the parking , the engine is running in both cases . The important is to take it easy and keep the revs down to 3500 rpm until it warms up .
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
From: TO Canada
thankyou for you input evosoul.....
the thing is ... by wut i meant wasting gas,... i meant the engine idle at 1500rpm when starting cold anyways, why not drive our car at 2000rpm max... (500 more rev then idle) so that we can make the oil burn it the efficient way, (warming up AND drive) instead of standing still, burning the gas just for warming up...
correct me if i'm wrong, cuz i've been thinking that reving 1500rpm idle vs 1500rpm driving slow would yield the same result, namely warming up the engine.. isnt it?
the thing is ... by wut i meant wasting gas,... i meant the engine idle at 1500rpm when starting cold anyways, why not drive our car at 2000rpm max... (500 more rev then idle) so that we can make the oil burn it the efficient way, (warming up AND drive) instead of standing still, burning the gas just for warming up...
correct me if i'm wrong, cuz i've been thinking that reving 1500rpm idle vs 1500rpm driving slow would yield the same result, namely warming up the engine.. isnt it?
DO YOU, have any IDEA what driving your car without warming it up in the winter does to your engine. Let me put it to you this way. Oil in order to do its job in an engine for the most part is heat activated.
Take a bottle of oil *if you feel like wasting a bit, put it in the freezer. an hour later take it out. Open it and pour it out. Now take one at room temp pour it out, and one that is heated to about 55'c or higher, then pour.
Remember oil needs to coat your engine internals to work properly, if does not coat , it is not effective as a lub. I see some many dumb asses start their car. after a -40'c night, slam it in to D and red line that car up and down the road in the hope to warm them selves up.
Your doing your car serious damage with metal on metal contact.
You think its a waste of gas? think of the pain in the *** a blown gasket or leaking oil will be. that extra 3 minutes of gas idling in the morning protects your engine. If its extremely code, you bet your *** your gonna let it warm up for 5 minutes.
make no mistake. anyone who tells you, oh ya 30 seconds is fine, is sadly mistaken, unless they have a block heater.
This is just talking about your engine, your AUTO transmission is a good example. a cold tranny depending on the car of course, will give slow / delayed sloppy shifts compared to a well warmed up car.
Be careful and beware.
Take a bottle of oil *if you feel like wasting a bit, put it in the freezer. an hour later take it out. Open it and pour it out. Now take one at room temp pour it out, and one that is heated to about 55'c or higher, then pour.
Remember oil needs to coat your engine internals to work properly, if does not coat , it is not effective as a lub. I see some many dumb asses start their car. after a -40'c night, slam it in to D and red line that car up and down the road in the hope to warm them selves up.
Your doing your car serious damage with metal on metal contact.
You think its a waste of gas? think of the pain in the *** a blown gasket or leaking oil will be. that extra 3 minutes of gas idling in the morning protects your engine. If its extremely code, you bet your *** your gonna let it warm up for 5 minutes.
make no mistake. anyone who tells you, oh ya 30 seconds is fine, is sadly mistaken, unless they have a block heater.
This is just talking about your engine, your AUTO transmission is a good example. a cold tranny depending on the car of course, will give slow / delayed sloppy shifts compared to a well warmed up car.
Be careful and beware.