Corner Wrench: Block-heater alternatives to help start your car in winter

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An apt variation on Murphy’s Law states that in a three-vehicle household with a two-car garage, the oldest one without a block-heater will always be the frozen block parked outside, and that this will be the hard-starter that keeps someone from getting to work in the morning. If you plan on driving a chilly car through the winter in this country, it could use some type of warming help to get going. Here are a few easy fixes to that problem.

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Battery blankets

Even unpowered battery insulation blankets can go a long way to ensuring full power delivery in the cold. Many users shy away from plug-in blankets due to the risk of failure, but they can provide a few seasons of use if they’re installed correctly and not disturbed. Check them whenever you’re under the hood for any signs of cracking of the exterior shielding and discard them before they can pose a fire risk.

Magnetic oil-pan heaters

These are simple electric heating elements encased in a metal pan, usually with an insulated handle and medium-strength magnet. These can be found at most auto-part stores, but only work on ferrous (iron, not aluminum or plastic) oil pans and should never be used on any engine with an oil leak or seeping. They also require easy access to the oil pan, meaning no large plastic belly shields. They must be removed before starting the engine.

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Battery top-up

If you know your vehicle is going to be outdoors on a frosty night, you can give the battery a hand on your way home by reducing the electrical load on the charging system. Turn the HVAC blower down to minimum for the last few kilometres of your commute, as well as any seat heaters and glass defrosters. This will ensure the majority of the alternator’s output is available to keep the battery at top charge.

Last resort: trouble-light under the hood

No, not your cheap plastic housing, LED lamp on a cord, but instead a real technician’s trouble-light with a metal cage around the bulb and an incandescent bulb. They can be hard to find in many areas, so keep an eye out at yard sales and estate auctions. Hang one of these under the hood with a 60-watt bulb in it, pointed at the engine and battery, being careful to keep it away from meltable plastics and rubber components. Leave it plugged in on even the coldest nights, and the next morning the engine will fire up like it’s July. Leave a visual cue on the dash and don’t latch the hood completely closed; it will serve as a visual reminder that you have something plugged in that needs to be disconnected before you drive off.

Note that this is method carries a small fire risk, particularly if the light is forgotten the next morning. Save this technique for trying situations, ideally under some supervision and away from the house.