Extreme cold

[rontaki]

You win

View attachment 4824458

Ambient Weather screenshots. I have one.

 

[ultrarunner]

It’s beyond my comprehension… I experienced single digits and the dry heat of Death Valley in the 120+

Below zero just isn’t in the realm in my part of California…

Hoping for the best for you guys…

 

[CalG]

It’s beyond my comprehension… I experienced single digits and the dry heat of Death Valley in the 120+

Below zero just isn’t in the realm in my part of California…

Hoping for the best for you guys…

I grew up in the Dakotas.

Zero degrees, no wind, and sunshine is a Perfect day!

 

[outdoorsman123]

I live North of North Dakota which has similar cold experiences. It will be reaching -40 here this weekend, around -50C with wind-chill. Wind-chill does not affect engines except to make them lose heat faster. But -40 is -40 and wind won't matter to metal.
As noted, 60% is what we do up here. A simple coolant test will show that. Last thing you want is it to freeze and expand and crack the block or something. If you're lucky it will turn to slush and not freeze solid, but it might freeze solid and at minimum bust the rad.
Plugging in the block heater will help the engine but not the rest of the areas that the coolant is in.

 

[Rockbadchild]

You win

View attachment 4824458

well if its a competition -27.4F ''feels'' like -50.8F
below in Celsius

 

[D'oh]

Fair
-33°F
-36°C

Humidity	NA
Wind Speed	W 6 mph
Barometer	30.50 in (1038.7 mb)
Dewpoint	N/A
Visibility	10.00 mi
Wind Chill	-51°F (-46°C)
Last update	23 Jan 4:54 am CST

Yep, it did get worse.

Wife's truck started not plugged in, Original battery 2019 F150 5.0L. Running 5W30.

 

[SmallChange]

Cold is when the coolant in your ancient VW freezes!

You are joking, I'm sure. But the coldest temperatures at the "Pole of Cold" in Antarctica have actually gone a little below the freezing point of carbon dioxide, a minor component of VW coolant.

 

[rontaki]

You are joking, I'm sure. But the coldest temperatures at the "Pole of Cold" in Antarctica have actually gone a little below the freezing point of carbon dioxide, a minor component of VW coolant.

I was joking. Also when I say that every morning, there was a big puddle of coolant beneath the VW. Air, of course.

 

[Looking4new]

Hello. Many of you, we are settling into extreme cold here in the far north. I don’t usually worry about things like this, but when the temperatures go down well below zero and stay there, I’m a bit worried about a couple of my tractors. I have a farmall 656 gas And a Farmall 856 diesel that are in an open front unheated shed. They of course have antifreeze in the cooling system, but I have not tested it. The gas has a circulating coolant heater and the diesel has a freeze plug heater. I have them both plugged in and just sitting there; I don’t plan on using them. My thought was to keep the heaters on during the worst of the cold. Is this a good idea? Do you guys ever do that? any other tips for extreme cold? Thanks.

If you have lots of money for the electricity you are wasting, go for it. I do agree with the number 2 post on this thread, get yourself a cheap anti-freeze tester and check them both. I only turn my block heater on 4 or so hours before I am going to use mine. It takes one cycle of the glow plugs and fires right up.

 

[Looking4new]

I don't advise it with the red long life anti-freeze, but with the green stuff, dip your finger into the coolant and taste it with the tip of your tongue. It should taste sweet. Now you guys before you flame me for that routine I KNOW anti-freeze is poison but I have been doing that for 60 years and I am still here. It is not like cyanide. You don't need to drink it, ONLY taste it. Rinse your mouth out with wateer or whatever your favourite beverage is, spit that out and check the other one. Use a different finger for the other tractor. Another way is to put some in a clear glass container, then look at, it the greener it is the better concentration of A-freeze to water. The concentrated green anti-freeze (Prestone) looks like neon green right from the jug.

 

[panamaguy]

We are in for the cold here too. Tomorrow -15f hi temp with -45 wind chills. I don't plug in the engine block heater unless I plan to use the tractor. The heater does not have a thermostat and can possibly burn out from extended use.
My dealer said to plug in an hour or so prior to starting and no need to run much longer than that. That's what I was told.

I sure do not agree with your dealer. When i lived in Canada block heaters were plugged in unless the motor was running. Started driving at 16 and moved to the Caribbean at 53 so saw lots of winter and temps to - 40. Not once did i ever have a block heater, frost plug or circulating fail

 

[RHiebert]

Hello. Many of you, we are settling into extreme cold here in the far north. I don’t usually worry about things like this, but when the temperatures go down well below zero and stay there, I’m a bit worried about a couple of my tractors. I have a farmall 656 gas And a Farmall 856 diesel that are in an open front unheated shed. They of course have antifreeze in the cooling system, but I have not tested it. The gas has a circulating coolant heater and the diesel has a freeze plug heater. I have them both plugged in and just sitting there; I don’t plan on using them. My thought was to keep the heaters on during the worst of the cold. Is this a good idea? Do you guys ever do that? any other tips for extreme cold? Thanks.

My first tip would be the use of synthetic engine and gear lubes along with a fuel additive that goes a long way to protect from extreme temperature. i'm sure that other posts here w/ help as well.

 

[Toyboy]

My first tip would be the use of synthetic engine and gear lubes along with a fuel additive that goes a long way to protect from extreme temperature. i'm sure that other posts here w/ help as well.

-37 F in the Hayward Lakes Area of Wisconsin right now. Thank god for heated garages !!!

 

[Little Red Tractor]

Many of the block heaters don't do well being plugged in 24/7. I burned one up in a previous tractor. The one in my current tractor needs only 1/2 hour or so to help my tractor start. I rarely use it. But that's not your issue.

An inexpensive hydrometer will allow you to test your system. They can by picked up for less than 10 bucks at Runings or similar places.

 

[tjandrews]

they make cheap gauges that will tell you what the coolant will survive, if your that worried I would buy one

Careful about those "cheap" coolant testers, the kind where you use a squeeze bulb to draw some into a chamber and read where the float rests.
I bought a cheap one on Amazon last fall and it read something like 50 below, even with plain water. Useless.

 

[Tailbent]

Wind chill is a sensation on bare skin, not actual temperature. If the temperature is 33° and the windchill is 20°, water will not freeze.
Wind will make your body lose heat faster so the risk of hypothermia increases but the freezing point is still 32°.
In Wyoming, we use plug in block heaters all night without problems. I have the dealer install them when I buy a truck. Some places have parking meters with plug ins for block heaters. And don't forget a poorly charged battery can freeze also.
For the investment you have in your equipment, a few gallons of antifreeze is a rediculously small amount to scrimp on. Keep antifreeze in your equipment and spend your time worrying about your water pipes.
And I have seen it freeze a steaming hot cup of coffee here so fast that the ice was still warm.