Anyone find a block heater or Battery heater that fits?

My 2007 froze up at -34C on the weekend. It started with a boost, but did not like it. Lots of black smoke out the back.

Possible solotions in my mind:
Larger battery
Battery warmer
Block heater (like every other car, truck, jeep in the city)

 

yeah Crowfoot told me they don't need it because they run on synthetic oil, but I'm not sure I get that. I also asked for the name of a remote starter that won't void my warranty, but There aren't any of those either. I'm a little east of you (SK,) we we're sitting at about -44 this weekend, luckily my insulated garage keeps the car around zero. I did have two frozen vehicles in my driveway though, fun times jumping a car in cold like that.

 

I lived in Fairbanks, AK for my college career - so I know exactly the sort of weather you guys experience.

I'm not sure about block heaters for the R56s (I know they exist for the R50/52/53), but for a battery warmer I would think that one of these would work. They simply stick to the bottom of your battery (the pad type was the most popular type in Fairbanks).

http://www.warehouseautoparts.com/Sp...et_heaters.htm

You don't need one that fits the bottom of your battery exactly. Find one that isn't bigger than the footprint of your battery and you'll be fine. I find that the pad type worked a lot better than the blanket type (maybe something to do w/ heat rising?), and they fit in tighter spaces too.

 

I had a block heater in my 03 Cooper when I still lived in Manitoba. I also had a small 2 amp battery charger hooked up to the battery, still have that. I thing a charger use less power to run, as it only runs when needed. There are some dipstick oil heaters out there, but I have never used one. I did go the first winter without the block heater, and my MINI always started, even at -45C, but it seemed much easier on it after I installed the block heater.

Mark

 

http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/pr...08474396672419

My buddy had a block heater cable dangling out his front grill on our trip down to LA this summer... in Santa Monica, a couple came up and asked him about his "electric car conversion"

 

That's funny. I remember sending this pic of myself back in college (see attached) to my friends down south. They all seemed to be quite confused with all the electrical outlets and extension cords.

A few actually thought I converted my Jeep to an electric vehicle.

 

shoot when I lived in WY and experienced AMs in excess of -30F I just placed a shop light with a 60 watt bulb directly under the oil pan of my Toy truck and that made the cold AM starts much less dramatic. It was garaged, but the G was not heated and only minimally insulated.

 

yeah, Im in Calgary as well, and this past week, my MINI is not too happy at 6 am starting up. I have been trying to figure something out, that will do it's job and not void warranty.

The battery heater might be the best bet.


Where would you put that Canadian tire thing on your/our MINI's?

 

I always thought that the block heater may be better because it warms up the engine oil. I guess stopping the battery from freezing is a good thing too.

 

Better route

Mark

 

Old post, but on topic;
Extreme cold temp. report The over night lows here are hitting -30F and with the windchill it feels like
-45F
But it's a dry cold,humidity is around 40%.
My MC starts every time,first time,with no block heater.I do have a trickle charger that plugs into the cig. lighter,keeps the battery topped up,and warm.
I make sure I turn off everything at shut down,heater fan,radio,and that the e-brake is on,so the DRLs are off.I find it cranks alittle slower than normal,but catches everytime.Idle is rougher than normal for about 15 seconds.Then it levels out at about 1200RPM,I hold the clutch in for about 30 seconds or so,the car stalled once last winter after I let the clutch out to fast, the tranny oil is thick at these temps.Then I slowly let the clutch out and keep the idle up till the pedal is fully released,it is a bit noisy,but that goes away after things start moving.Then I turn on the heater fan,seat heat,never use high setting,rear defog,and the AC to dry the air to help clear the windows.At these temps. I let the car warm up for between 5-10 min.But I have driven away once I,m buckled up,and the car just drives away.
Now I do keep revs below 3000RPM until the car is up to normal operating temp.
The Pirelli Snowcontrols don't seem to get "square wheel" as bad as the all seasons I ran last winter,could be that they run at 44PSI.
The cockpit is very warm,all the windows are clear,and the little guy still goes like snot:smile:
Now there are a few new rattles,but at these temps. I rattle too.
But with the heater blasting,radio going over that,not to mention paying attention to the ice and snow,I don't really hear them.
The MPG tank at these temps. I fill my tank at 1/2 empty normally,and I usually go 400KMs by then.At these temps I get between 300-325KMs at 1/2 a tank.Warm-up,wheel spin,and plowing through snow play into this,but the cold temps cause bearings to freeze up,and I'm sure that it is harder for the car to run at these temps period.
This car works great at these temps,and I feel safe on my hour highway commute in it

__________________

Mark