Car cover during the winter

[BigNick]

Quote:

Originally Posted by easysurfer I've always wondered. If a car is covered with snow, would that keep it warm (igloo effect?).

Only if the bottom of the car is also covered with snow, which is typically not the case. Otherwise the cold air is going to be circulating around the engine compartment from below. If you drive round on a cold day with the heating not pointed at the floor, you can probably feel the cold coming right off the floor pan.

[ERD50]

Some of you are forgetting that he is talking about 10 days in the "cold" (relative term).

After about 1/2 a day, wind chill will have zero effect. The car will be essentially as cold as ambient whether it has a cover, snow or anything around it. It is no longer producing heat - wind chill effect is over and done with. A cover is not a solution in any way (well, maybe keep snow from blowing in the engine compartment and melting and shorting out the spark plug wires - but that's a stretch).

As others have mentioned, current drain can be a problem, regardless of temperature. The solar chargers probably could help, but if I were worried, I'd just throw a cheap battery charger on the car for a few hours after I got home. That should be enough to replenish any charge lost to parasitics.

-ERD50

[samclem]

When you park the car before your trip, remember to park it so that you can get to the battery to jump start it if needed (usually, that means backing into the parking space). Also turn off all your accessories (radio, lights, heater/defrost blower, rear window defroster, etc). Although some cars de-activate these as the car is being cranked, you don't want to take the chance--you want all available juice flowing to the starter.

I've got one of those small solar battery trickle-chargers. I don't know if it makes any difference, but I haven't needed a jump start since I got it.

Be sure your car has the right weight oil for the winter. Many new cars recommend 5W-30 year-round now, but some manufacturers recommend thicker oil in the summer, thinner in the winter. If you've got oil that's too thick in the winter the car will be a little harder to start, and it also won't be good for your engine.

No car cover or engine blanket is going to keep your car any warmer for a 10 day period, unless it has a plug on it.

You should be fine. The battery is new, the weather isn't that cold, and 10 days is not an extremely long time.

[Nords]

If you're still using analog keys to open the door locks then you might want to squirt a little WD-40 in the keyhole before you leave. It beats the emergency alternative.

Y'all are making me feel a lot better about our last three days of rainy weather and today's 72-degree surfing conditions.

[Meadbh]

YouTube - Midas: Canadian Car Chase