Extreme Cold Weather Prep..

4

4RZ

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Although its a general topic i didn't find anything 5th gen specific so creating a new thread. I will be doing an Arctic trip next march and expect temperatures around -30 F. I am not planning on upgrading the battery at this point but open to upgrade if needed. I would like to avoid doing any permanent upgrades like Block heater or transmission heater but rather keep it simple like Synthetic Engine / Transmission fluids or any other compared to the Toyota synthetic fluids. Currently i plan to carry extra fuel and keep the engine running continuously since i plan to sleep in the car during the duration of 4-5 Days. Looking to see what other's may be doing for extreme cold.
 
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Batteries won't freeze if they are fully charged. But if the battery is cold it can't deliver as much charge either. The common thing is to put a little heat pad under the battery. There are "heat blankets" too, but they are darned near worthless. And by far the best way to heat a battery is with a 2amp trickle charger. The charger insures the battery is at full charge, and when it is the 2amp charge rate is converted directly to heat, hence it puts about 25 watts of heat directly into the battery (which is better than a 25 watt pad underneath the battery).
Synthetic fluids are a must at - 30.
Freshen up the antifreeze (depending on your mileage) lowest temp washer fluid you can find. That's all I can think of for ideas.
 
flyrv9 said:
If you plan to sleep in a running vehicle, please get some kind of CO monitor and alarm.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I will make sure my exhaust is not blocked by any snow occasionally. I wonder if the nest co alarm can be used in the car.
 
4RZ said:
Although its a general topic i didn't find anything 5th gen specific so creating a new thread. I will be doing an Arctic trip next march and expect temperatures around -30 F. I am not planning on upgrading the battery at this point but open to upgrade if needed. I would like to avoid doing any permanent upgrades like Block heater or transmission heater but rather keep it simple like Synthetic Engine / Transmission fluids or any other compared to the Toyota synthetic fluids. Currently i plan to carry extra fuel and keep the engine running continuously since i plan to sleep in the car during the duration of 4-5 Days. Looking to see what other's may be doing for extreme cold.
Click to expand...

I am not sure whether you need to change the coolant or not. You could be fine but make sure the coolant will accommodate the expected temperature range plus some margin.
 
Yoderguy said:
Batteries won't freeze if they are fully charged. But if the battery is cold it can't deliver as much charge either. The common thing is to put a little heat pad under the battery. There are "heat blankets" too, but they are darned near worthless. And by far the best way to heat a battery is with a 2amp trickle charger. The charger insures the battery is at full charge, and when it is the 2amp charge rate is converted directly to heat, hence it puts about 25 watts of heat directly into the battery (which is better than a 25 watt pad underneath the battery).
Synthetic fluids are a must at - 30.
Freshen up the antifreeze (depending on your mileage) lowest temp washer fluid you can find. That's all I can think of for ideas.
Click to expand...

I use a battery tender in my garage, but since i will be on the road i won't have access to any power outlet. Any alternative's? I will get a good antifreeze.
 
Change the brake fluid if it's older than a year or two. Brake fluid absorbs water and at low temps you may get crystals forming.

Don't use parking brake if you can avoid it. Brake pads may freeze to drum.
 
I'd recommend a noco booster pack (or equivalent)

I love mine. Keeps a charge in very cold temps too.
 
Asik a canadian

Us Canucks see those temps for weeks at a time, I'd stick the block heater in there if you can plug in, it'll start easier, don't want that puppy freezing into a block, and my two cents then you won't need synthetic,I've never used it in any vehicle. But then I wouldn't sleep in there, :thumb3:
 
Few years ago I remember Expeditions West did a write up on what they did to make their 2004 Tacoma able to sustain cold weather temps as they went to the arctic in the middle of winter.

They did not do much at all if I remember correctly. They mentioned that Japanese vehicles are more cold weather engineered than the domestics. All they had was a engine oil pan heater for cold starts and I believe transmission heater as well.

I'll try to find their post and post it here if I come across it.
 
Some other items to consider ...

Run 0W20 full synthetic engine oil for ease of cold temperature starts.

Along with carrying extra fuel, also consider gas line antifreeze (this is available in small containers - to add to your fuel to avoid condensation in your fuel lines from freezing).

I would carry lock de-icer just in case.

Have your battery load tested, and confirm your cold cranking amps (the more the better!).
 
If running continuously, won't need to worry about anything except fuel. Consider something to cover front grill/radiator to keep engine temp up. At -30, idle will barely keep engine warm and will need to block off large portion of interior and sleep in front by heater. Be careful - a minor problem (like a flat tire) can be life threatening.
 
I live in Western Montana and, as I sit here typing, the temps are dropping towards 0. We'll see a couple weeks of -30 or colder in the nights and it's consistently 0-10 for good stretches of the winter.

I would second the installation of a block heater. It's a $50 part and takes less than an hour to install with simple hand tools. And if you route the cord out through the grill, you won't even see it. A block heater makes cranking up in the morning much more pleasant. But, even without one (and I've run Toyotas with and without) it'll crank just fine (as long as your battery is good).

I've never used a battery heater, oil pan warmer, grill inserts or any other additions, but do make sure your battery is new (or at least healthy). I believe on my 5th gen, it calls for synthetic oil and I've always run it since it flows a bit better in the cold temps.

Have fun and make sure to have cold weather gear, food, and water readily accessible. Nothing like sticking your Subaru eight miles from the nearest phone with your wife and children on board in a snowstorm to remind you of that...long walk out.
 
Some random thoughts, not really vehicle related but sleeping in your car in that cold of weather, you still may get alot of condensation inside. something to try to keep it drier?

Also thinking, chains, straps, shovel, sand/gravel for weight/traction
 
No experience whatsoever, but sleeping in the car with the engine running all night just seems wrong/risky somehow. You doing this alone?

Anyone do this?
 
lakerman said:
Us Canucks see those temps for weeks at a time, I'd stick the block heater in there if you can plug in, it'll start easier, don't want that puppy freezing into a block, and my two cents then you won't need synthetic,I've never used it in any vehicle. But then I wouldn't sleep in there, :thumb3:
Click to expand...

I can get the block heater installed but when i am on the road i won't have access to any power. Any reason for not sleeping in the car? i do that sometimes in my 4R and also did that in an F 350 4 years back when i was on the Dalton Highway in the winter.

Bossman said:
Some other items to consider ...

Run 0W20 full synthetic engine oil for ease of cold temperature starts.

Along with carrying extra fuel, also consider gas line antifreeze (this is available in small containers - to add to your fuel to avoid condensation in your fuel lines from freezing).

I would carry lock de-icer just in case.

Have your battery load tested, and confirm your cold cranking amps (the more the better!).
Click to expand...

Thanks I will grab a lock De-Icer. :)

wanderMT said:
If running continuously, won't need to worry about anything except fuel. Consider something to cover front grill/radiator to keep engine temp up. At -30, idle will barely keep engine warm and will need to block off large portion of interior and sleep in front by heater. Be careful - a minor problem (like a flat tire) can be life threatening.
Click to expand...

I will see what i can do to cover the radiator.

maddot said:
I live in Western Montana and, as I sit here typing, the temps are dropping towards 0. We'll see a couple weeks of -30 or colder in the nights and it's consistently 0-10 for good stretches of the winter.

I would second the installation of a block heater. It's a $50 part and takes less than an hour to install with simple hand tools. And if you route the cord out through the grill, you won't even see it. A block heater makes cranking up in the morning much more pleasant. But, even without one (and I've run Toyotas with and without) it'll crank just fine (as long as your battery is good).

I've never used a battery heater, oil pan warmer, grill inserts or any other additions, but do make sure your battery is new (or at least healthy). I believe on my 5th gen, it calls for synthetic oil and I've always run it since it flows a bit better in the cold temps.

Have fun and make sure to have cold weather gear, food, and water readily accessible. Nothing like sticking your Subaru eight miles from the nearest phone with your wife and children on board in a snowstorm to remind you of that...long walk out.
Click to expand...

haha sure i will have proper cold weather gear this time. Not like last time where we went around the arctic in t shirts and hollister jackets and had my hand frozen to my tripod :)

way out west said:
Some random thoughts, not really vehicle related but sleeping in your car in that cold of weather, you still may get alot of condensation inside. something to try to keep it drier?

Also thinking, chains, straps, shovel, sand/gravel for weight/traction
Click to expand...

I will carry a shovel and some chains and straps. I didn't get any condensation inside the last time. March is usually very clear in the arctic. Last time I used to wrap my camera equipment outside in the cold in a Ziplock before i bring it in to reduce the condensation.

philsey said:
No experience whatsoever, but sleeping in the car with the engine running all night just seems wrong/risky somehow. You doing this alone?

Anyone do this?
Click to expand...

I do this sometime's in my 4R. Other than exhaust gases any other concerns?
 
If you're planning on sleeping in the truck...get yourself a nice little Honda 2000w generator, chain it to the tree 25' away. It'll run all night, and you could run a small ceramic space heater, a battery charger, and a block heater all night.
 
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