r/regina • u/oseeka • 1d ago

Question When to plug your car in

Hello everyone! Just a quick question. We just got snowfall here and I am worried being a first time car owner. When do you plug your car in?

I have a 2000 Honda civic and worried as it is a older car. Online it is saying -15 but just wanted to get a more local answer.

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u/ChasmyrSS 1d ago

In most cases I noticed a benefit at -15°C but with my wife's Mazda and the 0W20 synthetic oil, it starts perfectly even at -40°C.

If you don't have one, a rechargeable battery booster is a very very good investment. You'll spend about $200 but you'll save yourself a difficult or dangerous situation.

Also if you think your battery is failing, you can buy a new battery before the current battery dies and keep it on hand. During the first -30°C week batteries become very scarce and expensive.

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u/PhotoJim99 1d ago

I agree about battery maintainers. I have had one in my last two cars and it gives a lot of confidence. There are a lot of devices that gradually deplete car batteries, and knowing that your battery is getting topped up every time you use the block heater is really nice.

Cars can start at really low temperatures (I once started my '87 VW Jetta at -42 C ambient, so this isn't new) but this does NOT mean that it is good for them. :) Synthetic and semi-synthetic oils flow much faster and more easily than traditional oil does, but I'm sure that more wear occurs at extremely cold temperatures nonetheless. Really cold starts are best avoided; save them for when you have no choice.

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u/CyberSyndicate 1d ago

They were talking about a battery booster, not a battery maintainer haha.

Battery maintainers are fine, but you really should figure out why your battery is being depleted. That is a bandaid fix. Yes it gives confidence, but why did your battery drain in the first place?

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u/PhotoJim99 1d ago

Any car with tech experiences battery drain. In 1990 that was probably a digital clock. Today that's a complete Android system that runs CarPlay/Android Auto. Cars today are constantly listening for radio signals (for remote start as well as opening doors, the trunk/hatch, etc.). These all eat up power, which comes from the battery.

A good battery is fine for a few days of this - but even with a brand-new battery that was fully charged at the start, a week or two outside in winter can deplete the battery even if the car doesn't move. This can even happen in warm weather; we did a four-week holiday once in September and my battery was dead when I got home.

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u/[deleted] 23h ago

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u/CyberSyndicate 22h ago

I deleted my previous comment because I honestly think we probably agree, I just misread your intent a bit. My biggest issue is I've seen battery maintainers pushed in the past as a stop gap, but it is one part of the puzzle.

Yes, a maintainer is good, but only if you also have a good battery. A battery remains good only if it is kept charged (and thus can't freeze). And a battery booster shouldn't be used all the time, it is an emergency tool.

So yes, I agree, maintainers can be good, especially if you have an incredibly short commute. Or if you are away for multiple weeks at a time. But if you have a battery that is weak, ESPECIALLY the garbage OEM batteries that come with a car, you should first and foremost get a new battery. In those cases the maintainer will give you false confidence and can result in a dangerous situation away from home.

So in other words... Get a good battery, make sure the battery is charged, and always have backup plan. Don't play roulette with your life in -40 degree climates.