Battery Tender for winter heat? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

imagesinthewind · #1 10-20-2012, 01:35 PM

Last winter there were several times when I went out in the AM and the air was so cold it kept the battery from starting the car.
I was worried about that for this year as I just hear Colorado might have a hard winter. I was wondering if using a battery tender to trickle charge would also keep the battery warm for really cold days?

Thanks

pawoSD · #2 10-20-2012, 03:12 PM

When its that cold you should be using some sort of block heater, a healthy battery will start a block-heated engine fine even at -15F

An easy way to add some heat to the engine is with an adhesive silicone oil pan heater. A 250watt one is about $90 and you just clean the pan, stick it on, route the cord, and turn it on for 10-15 mins to set the glue. Should make quite a difference in the super cold. When that cold I'd leave it on overnight or at least for 4-5 hrs before starting the car.

imagesinthewind · #3 10-20-2012, 03:27 PM

I have a black heater on the SD.
I was thinking of my Subaru...

JHZR2 · #4 10-20-2012, 04:08 PM

The impedance on a battery will indeed rise when it is cold. This means higher voltage drop under load and thus less power output capability.

But a healthy battery should be good for starting down way low, so that is where id start looking. If your fluids are not the best, they will cause issues, as will compression, glow plugs, etc.

A battery tender will create a bit of heat in the battery, so it will be a bit more ready to go then otherwise...

pawoSD · #5 10-20-2012, 04:13 PM

You can use a heater on a gasser too. We just recently added a pan heater to my dad's 420 to make startups easier and reduce wear.

bigblockchev · #6 10-20-2012, 05:02 PM

Here in the frrozen north we can get heated battery blankets, dipstick oil heaters, Block heaters both electric and diesel(espar) with or without circulating pumps and lower rad hose engine heaters. Cheers Dan

Zacharias · #7 10-20-2012, 06:13 PM

The small motors in Japanese cars usually turn over easily in even extreme cold weather, if my experience is any guide. Subarus are insanely popular around here and as far as I know they start well in the winter. A block heater isn't usually a requirement to get small (light) motors like those turn in the cold....

How old is the battery? Are you certain it's the correct rating for the car? How about the alternator? And does the starter turn enthusiastically all year 'round?

A car with a weak link in the charging system can start fine in warmer months but give out in the cold.

Jeremy5848 · #8 10-21-2012, 01:00 AM

A battery trickle charger is a great way to keep the battery at full charge in addition to keeping it a little warmer from waste heat. Additionally, the electrolyte in a fully charged battery has a higher specific gravity and therefore won't freeze as easily (a frozen battery makes a terrible mess when it thaws). Mind the other people's advice about block heaters, etc.

Jeremy

imagesinthewind · #9 10-21-2012, 02:01 PM

Thanks Jeremy!
And we just got the Subaru, battery is fine. I'm just trying to be proactive about the upcoming winter.

EDBSO · #10 10-21-2012, 05:44 PM

Synthetic oil is your best bet with a trickle charger and you should start every time.

gregszustak · #11 10-22-2012, 06:56 AM

Battery blanket, synthetic blend oil, lower radiator hose heater with a 6 year old battery.
Starts great a 5 below

oldsinner111 · #12 10-22-2012, 07:00 AM

when its 0 I put my engine and battery to sleep with blankets.It starts up fine at 0 both diesel and gas motors

vstech · #13 10-22-2012, 07:04 AM

anybody out there in western SD? BRRRR! I don't miss that place for winter starting! the GASSERS needed tank and block heaters, along with battery heaters in order to start!!!

torsionbar · #14 10-22-2012, 10:29 AM

i like coolant heaters much better than block heaters for cold climates. a coolant heater has a pump built into it, so it heats and circulates the coolant. this warms the engine better than a block heater, as a block heater doesn't really get much heat into the cylinder head, but a coolant heater does. the other added benefit to a coolant heater, is that you have cabin heat immediately upon starting the engine, no delay.

as for the battery, yes a battery tender will work to keep it just a few degrees warmer, but the best answer is a purpose built device. they sell a thing that's like an electric blanket, but it fits around the battery. it's specifically for warming the battery in cold climates.

vstech · #15 10-22-2012, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by torsionbar

i like coolant heaters much better than block heaters for cold climates. a coolant heater has a pump built into it, so it heats and circulates the coolant. this warms the engine better than a block heater, as a block heater doesn't really get much heat into the cylinder head, but a coolant heater does. the other added benefit to a coolant heater, is that you have cabin heat immediately upon starting the engine, no delay.

as for the battery, yes a battery tender will work to keep it just a few degrees warmer, but the best answer is a purpose built device. they sell a thing that's like an electric blanket, but it fits around the battery. it's specifically for warming the battery in cold climates.

... a block heater will heat the block/cylinder head... MUCH faster than the coolant heater system. also, it'll work with less wattage.