How to keep engine block warm in cold climates without a block heater

Yeh that's what I was thinking. I guess I could just run a small space heater under the oil pan for a few hours prior to starting

 

I wouldn't worry about it. I've never had a block heater. Lived in Grand Rapids, MN, for 8 years and truck sat outside 24-7. Started right up at -40 below many times. Only issue I've ever had was the battery when that cold. Make sure the generator can be used to jump your truck and you're good. Only change i made in the winter was to use 0W-30 oil.

 

I used to live in North Dakota (now in Minnesota) I started cars down to -45F (definitely sluggish at that temp) without engine block heaters. I have never met anyone that had an engine fail due to excessive wear from cold starts. Give it a few minutes to get everything flowing and they are just fine. I know my taco has started at around -15 no big deal.

 

Seriously I used to live in North Dakota. Your overthinking it especially with the

$53 0w-20 oil Toyota/ exxon mobil Case of 6 Quarts Full Synthetic TGMO SN 0W-20 Oil

0w-20 oil in these trucks.

In terms of North Dakota weather, it's not even forecast to be very cold next week.

 

That's why modern oils have two viscositys.

 

not gunna need it at 16f trust us

 

Or for anything above -20F… At least not for a camping trip.
Rigging up a ghetto oil pan heater for a couple of uses isn’t going to hurt anything but is a waste of time, effort, money and mental bandwidth imo

 

I have seen cars lit on fire because of rigged up block heaters.

 

My diesel has a block heater I use when its sub zero.

The tacoma just starts no matter what temp I've had it in.

 

Lived in Northern WI all 40+ years of my life.
It's not necessary.

 

Not necessary. I was living in MN when some of the coldest temps on record hit. -63*F without windchill. It was one of the very few times the Governor closed the state during my 26 years there. Both of my vehicles started without issue. One parked outside, one in the garage. Neither had a block heater. I used full-synthetic oil back then (& still do!). That stuff will still pour at -65*F, so a few degrees colder is only the beginning to a thickening. Not a worry at all about oil circulation.

 

When was MN that cold?

 

Maybe never?

 

Still stupid cold. I am glad I was in ND in 96.

 

Went to look it up and my work computer won't let access the websites which say. But Wikipedia shows -63*F during the years I was there. (If one can trust public input (like my erroneous entry to TW.)). I was there from 1989 to 2015.

I remember -73*F being called out, must have been WITH windchill. We had to attend a house closing. Doubt I still have a copy of the contract, but it would tell me the exact date.

 

Since power is available, oil pan heating pad like this:

https://www.padheaters.com/all-product.php?categoryName=oilHeaters

Had one similiar on a VW TDI but did not use all night, just 2 hrs w/timer before starting the car. Helped in quicker cold starts on a diesel.
Haven't seen the need for one on current Tacoma.

 

Yep, started my car at 20, 35 below in AK without the block heater, just used 5w-30 synthetic. Took longer to get heat in the cab, but cars started up fine.

 

True. On the flip side the great majority of engine wear happens on start-up.

Oil viscosity is important for an engine's long-term performance. At lower temperatures, oil becomes thicker, which can restrict lubrication and cause damage. At higher temperatures, oil becomes thinner, which can also limit lubrication and cause damage.

 

It hit -23F here in NW WI just last week.
Was -30-40 with windchill.

 

You are joking, right?

https://pqia.org/castrol-edge-sae-0w-20-full-synthetic-motor-oil/
One 0w-20 oil, tested at -35C or -31F.
Viscosity was 5,175 cSt, Max allowed is 6,200, so it is 17% UNDER the max.

Let's look at 5w-30.
https://pqia.org/pennzoil-platinum-full-synthetic-sae-5w-30-api-sp-motor-oil/

at -30C or -22F it has 4,772 cSt, with the max of 6,600cst. No wonder I had no problems with 5w-30 oils in Alaska.