The JK and -20*F to -40*F Temperatures

[BrettDez]

We are currently planning a short weekend snow trip where we will be camping along frozen lakes while exploring an old logging route through several feet of snow.

Now the question....while headed out into the wilderness up north and the potential to encounter these low temperatures? I imagine during the day the engine and everything mechanical will be kept plenty warm from use, but while we are stopped and making camp for the night is my concern. Are there any neccessary steps to take in advance for the two nights to ensure the vehicles start and move in the morning without issue? I'm not sure if there will even be an issue, but I figure I'd like to ask for any input from those who encounter these temperatures?

 

[jeep-N-montero]

The 2 biggest issues in the cold are the battery and coolant/antifreeze, if those are addressed you should be just fine. I would be more worried about keeping yourselves warm if it indeed is getting that cold.

 

[Septu]

Keep in mind there's a big difference between -20f (-28c) and -40f (-40c). More so if there's humidity. -28c with no wind is chilly, but not a big deal. -40c is ************* cold. I plug my JK in whenever it hits -20c. I'm not too worried about the -20c, but the fact that temps up here can (and do) drop fairly rapidly overnight. I don't go into work when it's -40c unless I absolutely have to, and will instead work from home. I do this because even with synthetic oil, the engine block heater and an oil pan heater, I have concerns over long term wear and tear on my JK. So while I'll wheel the **** out of it, I do try to avoid things when it's easy to do.

I never had any issues with my 07 JKU in the cold temps, however I had synthetic throughout (difs & engine). I would have major concerns about leaving a vehicle with conventional oil overnight at -40 without it being plugged in (and with an oil pan heater). Not because it wouldn't turn over - if your battery is half decent, it almost certainly well, but because your oil is gel and you have to wonder what long term damage you're doing to your engine.

For what you're describing, I'd ensure your engine has synthetic oil in it. Synthetic in the difs wouldn't be a bad idea, however if you do not normally deal with sub zero temps (our whole winter is below freezing for 4-5 months), then you could probably skip this. If you're camping in a remote area, then you might want to bring a battery booster (one of those things to help jump start your jeep), but this would be more precautionary than anything and I doubt you'd need it.

Other than that, bring winter gear and some candles. Worse case is you light a few candles in the JK - they will prevent you from freezing.

 

[lbarcher]

In my experience with my jk, it'll start at -40 but it's the tranny and axles that will be least happy.
I've found that putting the t-case in neutral and the tranny in gear will allow things to warm up.
Sure synthetic helps a bunch.
The one concern would be the plastic shift doohickey on the transfer case snapping in the cold.


If people in this part of the world didn't go to work at -40, there would be a bunch of empty businesses
for a bunch of days every winter.

 

[Septu]

If people in this part of the world didn't go to work at -40, there would be a bunch of empty businesses for a bunch of days every winter.

I can easily work from home... so it's not quite the same. If I worked in a business that required me to be physically there, then I would have to go. But that doesn't mean I like to do it.

 

[lbarcher]

My wife rides her mountain bike to work at -30 to save wear and tear on her truck.
It's only 5km to her office so the truck takes more of a beating. Studded bike tires are awesome.

 

[Dan Grec]

My wife rides her mountain bike to work at -30 to save wear and tear on her truck.
It's only 5km to her office so the truck takes more of a beating. Studded bike tires are awesome.

I've ridden my bike to work in Whitehorse every day this year so far.. planning to ride it every single day throughout winter.

-Dan

 

[BrettDez]

I appreciate the responses everyone. We have our personal warmth taken care of in the plans. Now just working on the goal of ensuring we avoid any mechanical issues with the vehicles.

I really do appreciate the tips, such as the synthetic(which I already have in the engine and I believe the others on the trip will as well) and the transmission warmup technique. An emergency roadside battery charger is definitely a nice "just in case" idea.

Again, thank you for all the responses guys!

 

[Vince1]

Here in the Rockies at altitude, we can get pretty harsh winter weather. Block heaters ar great, but useless when out on a trip away from electricity. On winter tips, I carry a concrete curing blanket. The are cheap, waterproof and useful for wrapping your JK overnight. Good in an emergency to keep yourself warm as all.

 

[Dan Grec]

Here in the Rockies at altitude, we can get pretty harsh winter weather. Block heaters ar great, but useless when out on a trip away from electricity. On winter tips, I carry a concrete curing blanket. The are cheap, waterproof and useful for wrapping your JK overnight. Good in an emergency to keep yourself warm as all.

At -40C/F, nothing stays "warm" for more than a couple of hours, no matter how much insulation you throw on it.

Also, generators work well to power the block heater, sump heater and battery blanket, though of course you'll have to figure out a way to start the generator at -40, because it won't be happy either. Most people bring them inside their wall tents with wood stove at night, then take them out in the morning to plug in the vehicle before starting it.

-Dan

 

[Vince1]

Nobody is claiming to keep things "warm". Just not frozen enough to cause damage upon startup. Don't knock something until you try it.

 

[thedjjack]

make sure there is no water/moisture in the fuel...

In the old days people would make a small fire in front of the vehicle and push it over to warm it up prior to starting (not recommended especially on newer plastic trucks).

 

[Vince1]

You can also take advantage of exothermic sticks or pads under the insulation. Some of the sodium acetate based bodywarmers slow down the heat loss in key areas a few hours before startup while the insulation helps retain it.
If you have extra power available, then all this is a mute point...just use one of the many tractor heating pads/engine blankets available. I had a block heater crack my radiator once...the delta T must have been too great upon startup. Minor leak and Dealer covered it though.

 

[TheTransporter]

when u have a fire take some coals and put them under oil pan....problem solved

 

[Dan Grec]

Nobody is claiming to keep things "warm". Just not frozen enough to cause damage upon startup. Don't knock something until you try it.

Hey Vince,

Sorry, I wasn't trying to "knock" your idea, but living up here in the Yukon where we regularly see -40C/F as the HIGH temperature for a day, I can tell you no amount of insulation over the engine will help. Within a few hours everything will be at the outside air temperature, maybe even lower if it's windy.

when u have a fire take some coals and put them under oil pan....problem solved

Lots of people in off-grid cabins up here try to use some kind of flame/gas/stove idea and some old steel stove pipe to direct the hot air onto the sump and up through the engine bay.
It's not uncommon to hear of fires starting this way, it only takes a small amount of oil on the outside of the oil pan.

-Dan