The wrath of the cold dirty douth

[Tmyers]

Hi all, i'm taking my datto down to Dunedin in a couple of weeks as i'm down there for Uni. Any tips on what i can do to help make the car a reliable starter in the cold? I can tell it's going to struggle a wee bit as it sometimes turns over quite a few times before catching on a cold Auckland morning. This may have been due to a loose fan belt which i've just replaced. But if not, i'm not looking to make any major alterations, just a few tips on what might help would be great . Thanks!

[Tmyers]

P.s. sorry for only asking questions and not having much to offer. I don't know a heck of a lot to be honest, i'm still very much learning and am quite the novice!

[Josh]

Get your timing mint,
Check alternator is doing its thang,
New battery if you can afford (or at least be prepared to buy anothe/Deep cycle diesel, Otago cold kills them from time-to-time),
Throw a cover or an old douvet on overnite it so its less frozen/encircle with burning couches,
Add antifreeze

Enjoy

[DAT620]

you could always try the Russian thing by putting a lit campstove under it each morning?.... No dont do that lol
Partially block the rad with cardboard like a 3rd and buy a thermistat that opens later?
personally I would do nothing, starting problems get a new battery.

[classicdat]

Points, if you dwell and timing are right you shouldn't have a problem, I lived down that way and went to Wallytech in Dunedin, I ran my 120y with no choke for 3 years after one of the butterfly screws ended up on top of #4 piston, never had a problem starting it, providing my points dwell was about 49 degrees and timing between 7 and 10, what do you drive?

[Bluebird_U]

Being a student then I take it you are not going to have a garage? Otherwise you could put a electric blanket in the engine bay, or you could get one of those aluminium type windscreen things and put it on the outside under the wipers (hopefully other students wont try to set it on fire) - not very helpful getting the car started but makes defrosting a bit faster as there shouldnt be as much ice, or just stick your head out the window to see until it warms up. Maybe even driving gloves depending on the heater.

[Josh]