Winterizing my truck - Page 1

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Winterizing my truck

Posted: 7/22/2015 2:42:03 AM EDT

I bought a new truck and need to winterize it
It already has the block heater and I have been told the way to go is using a heating pad oil pan and a trickle charger on the battery

Any suggestions for trickle charger?

Posted: 7/22/2015 4:19:59 AM EDT

[#1]

Posted: 7/22/2015 10:19:12 AM EDT

[#2]

What type of truck/engine and where is Alaska are you living? Things are a 'little' different in Anchorage and Fairbanks.

Posted: 7/22/2015 12:18:19 PM EDT

[#3]

Those three items are pretty typical. Might want a battery blanket for FAI though.

The Katz pad heaters can be found at NAPA. IIRC they might be rebranded NAPA too. There is an application guide for different vehicles, but the climate is nondescript. So the basis for ambient temperature may or may not include -4000F or whatever your low feels like.

Install on the pads- clean the oil pan really good. The pad is a sticker. One affixed, put RTV sealant around the perimeter of the pad to keep moisture out.

Battery tender makes some good trickle charges.

Consider using a 3 or 4 into 1 short extension cord, or hand a 2 gage j-box under your hood to do the same.

Posted: 7/22/2015 1:25:08 PM EDT

[#4]

Quote History

Quoted:
What type of truck/engine and where is Alaska are you living? Things are a 'little' different in Anchorage and Fairbanks.

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5.7 Hemi/Fairbanks

Posted: 7/22/2015 2:35:11 PM EDT

[#5]

Oil pan, buy the Katz pad at NAPA, buy some high temp silicone goo(one tube is plenty), buy roll of duct tape. Get under car, put silicone goo on clean oil pan, duct tape in place so it holds really tight. run cord so it doesn't hit hot or moving things. If you have enough room to put a power box under the hood you should it makes everything really clean, my Impreza had one and I loved it.(little metal box bolted into the inside of the engine compartment, with 4 outlets in it). then run that cord out of the front.
Battery blanket(it wraps around the battery), take battery out of rig, wrap around re install battery with it wrapped around. problem solved. run cord as before to power strip.
If you feel the need buy a trickle charger(I never had one and was fine but hey after 7 winters up there what do I know).

Posted: 7/22/2015 5:43:45 PM EDT

[#6]

Along with what has been mentioned already, you might want to change the differential fluids along with the engine for those really cold days. If you are not able to put the vehicle in side, it is also nice to get a heater for the inside. It sure makes it nicer when going out. Does the vehicle already a block heater installed, if not, get one installed.

Posted: 7/22/2015 7:46:44 PM EDT

[#7]

When winterizing we always get:

Engine block heater

Oil Pan heater

Battery Plate

Battery Blanket

Hottest thermostat available

Biggest battery we can shoe horn in there with high CCA (I like Optima)

Trickle charger (I use Battery Tenders)

Plug in cords with lighted indicator

Silicon windhsheild wipers

Mobil 5-30 or 0-30 oil (Mobil is best at handling cold temps but is expensive)

Autostart with cold weather mode where is will run the vehicle once an hour when it's put into the mode and it's cold enough - for situations where you can't plug in.

Posted: 7/22/2015 9:16:03 PM EDT

[#8]

Quote History

Quoted:
Along with what has been mentioned already, you might want to change the differential fluids along with the engine for those really cold days. If you are not able to put the vehicle in side, it is also nice to get a heater for the inside. It sure makes it nicer when going out. Does the vehicle already a block heater installed, if not, get one installed.

View Quote

Supposed to have a block heater and I envision parking in the garage

Posted: 7/22/2015 9:16:20 PM EDT

[#9]

Quote History

Quoted:
When winterizing we always get:

Engine block heater
Oil Pan heater
Battery Plate
Battery Blanket

Hottest thermostat available
Biggest battery we can shoe horn in there with high CCA (I like Optima)

Trickle charger (I use Battery Tenders)
Plug in cords with lighted indicator
Silicon windhsheild wipersMobil 5-30 or 0-30 oil (Mobil is best at handling cold temps but is expensive)

Autostart with cold weather mode where is will run the vehicle once an hour when it's put into the mode and it's cold enough - for situations where you can't plug in.

View Quote

Thanks Mike
What is a battery plate?

Posted: 7/22/2015 9:38:01 PM EDT

[#10]

Quote History

Quoted:
Thanks Mike

What is a battery plate?

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:

When winterizing we always get:

Engine block heater

Oil Pan heater

Battery Plate

Battery Blanket

Hottest thermostat available

Biggest battery we can shoe horn in there with high CCA (I like Optima)

Trickle charger (I use Battery Tenders)

Plug in cords with lighted indicator

Silicon windhsheild wipersMobil 5-30 or 0-30 oil (Mobil is best at handling cold temps but is expensive)

Autostart with cold weather mode where is will run the vehicle once an hour when it's put into the mode and it's cold enough - for situations where you can't plug in.

Thanks Mike

What is a battery plate?

Battery warmer that the battery sits on.

Posted: 7/23/2015 10:58:08 PM EDT

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted:
Thanks Mike

What is a battery plate?

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:

When winterizing we always get:

Engine block heater

Oil Pan heater

Battery Plate

Battery Blanket

Hottest thermostat available

Biggest battery we can shoe horn in there with high CCA (I like Optima)

Trickle charger (I use Battery Tenders)

Plug in cords with lighted indicator

Silicon windhsheild wipersMobil 5-30 or 0-30 oil (Mobil is best at handling cold temps but is expensive)

Autostart with cold weather mode where is will run the vehicle once an hour when it's put into the mode and it's cold enough - for situations where you can't plug in.

Thanks Mike

What is a battery plate?

It goes under the battery and keeps it warm. It's more effective than a battery blanket (heat rises), but nice to have both. You can never have enough battery power.

Posted: 7/24/2015 3:46:28 AM EDT

[#12]

OP, make sure you check the antifreeze for how cold its good to..I set all mine for -60..you can get a cheap tester but I prefer checking with a refractometer....dont assume even a new vehicle from a local dealer will be set cold enough, most are only down to -30 or -40.....

Posted: 7/29/2015 6:49:35 PM EDT

[#13]

Looking at amazon, there are a handful of "battery tender" trickle chargers

What size do I need?

Posted: 7/31/2015 3:54:49 AM EDT

[#14]

I think 10 amp should be fine especially with batt blankets.....

Posted: 8/1/2015 1:17:58 AM EDT

[#15]

It would just be for charging the battery, not powering all the heaters. Trickle chargers are around an amp, give or take. Everything should be wired together with one inline fuse, and that one will have to have enough capacity to cover everything.

Posted: 8/5/2015 1:51:04 AM EDT

[#16]

U of A students get a hefty NAPA discount if you still have your card. Don't forget wire loom to make everything look factory and to protect the wires. I use two Odyssey batteries on the boat, good stuff. Everything else I can think of was covered.

Brand new truck or used? If used check the heavy gauge wire connections for corrosion.

Posted: 8/5/2015 3:03:02 AM EDT

[#17]

New truck
Got in there today to look at things
The battery is actually encased in a wool insulator
Never had seen that before

Posted: 8/5/2015 11:33:04 PM EDT

[#18]

Battery Cozy?

Posted: 8/17/2015 10:30:36 PM EDT

[#19]

dumb question I am sure.......

I have the 4 plug junction box and a flat open area on sheet metal to install it
What do I do? Drill a small pilot hole and then use self drilling sheet metal screw?

Posted: 8/17/2015 11:56:47 PM EDT

[#20]

I'd be far more confident with bolt and nut since it's going to be exposed to a lot of vibration.

Posted: 8/18/2015 7:02:53 AM EDT

[#21]

Our work trucks had them mounted with the rubber washer style self drillers, like used on metal roofing, and we never had issues on the countless trips up the haul road or to pogo. Use nylock nuts if going with bolts though.

Posted: 8/18/2015 4:57:51 PM EDT

[#22]

Quote History

Quoted:
Our work trucks had them mounted with the rubber washer style self drillers, like used on metal roofing, and we never had issues on the countless trips up the haul road or to pogo. Use nylock nuts if going with bolts though.

View Quote

Not sure if I can get my hand behind the open space
Thinking that the self drilling screw is going to have to be the ticket