[Stoic Guardian]

i live in Central Oregon, and it frequently gets cold here, not nearly as harsh as some climates but it is pretty bad sometimes. so i am wondering if a battery heater and block heater would be worthwhile for me. would it make the car last longer, or the heater come on faster. I am fairly certain that the heater heats the water in the radiator and circulates it, but would that warm the oil so as to make for easier start ups and less wear?

 

[Stoic Guardian]

it gets pretty cold here, but i don't think that it gets nearly that cold. i guess it is kinda useless. i am planning on running mobil 1 10W30 this winter. i would run 0W20 but costco doesnt have that.

 

[Stoic Guardian]

I am going to look for 0W20, a little thinner when warm than it recommends but that way i can get a bit better flow. If i can find it ill do 0W30 if the 0W20 isnt around

 

[Stoic Guardian]

15 minutes might be a bit much, but i think a warm-up should still be a good bit longer than 1, and then still take it easy till its up to temp. oil gets incredibly thick at freezing

 

[Stoic Guardian]

...at least a 15-minute warm-up couldn't HURT anything!

I completely agree. it may or may not be excessive, but better than the alternative, and there is something to be said for creature comforts.

 

[Stoic Guardian]

15 minutes of idling will probably put more water into the oil as engine will stay cool longer and the moist gases in the crankcase will condense.

and where would it go otherwise? its a pretty tight system, there shouldn't be much moisture in there.