Cold Weather Maintenance?

[LHC30]

After living in the Southwest all my life, we moved to N/central TN. We are having a real cold snap with snow and single digit temps at night. Due to garage space, both my 05 rubi and 13 JKUR have to live outside. I still have 10-30 in both and the 13 has a “lighter” antifreeze mix. I. Fact on our trip out here, overnight just outside of Gallup NM it got down to maybe 5 at night causing the coolant to be pushed out of the rad cap. I opened it and it looked like a slushy ! The prestone coolant gauge says it’s good to about 10 degrees. The 05 is solid and good to go to -34.

I’m concerned about what harm I may do if I choose to start them in the mornings. What cautions should I take and what cold weather periodic maintenance do y’all do?

 

[TheBoogieman]

Non issue. My Jeeps always live outside. If antifreeze is pushed out of the cap, you have other issues.
p.s. I flush my cooling system with a chemical flush every 3 years, regardless of mileage. Cheap insurance.

 

[LHC30]

Thanks. The slush was certainly a problem and I have hopefully fixed that by swapping out a gallon of the premix with concentrated MOPAR coolant. We’ll see if that was enough.

 

[James9100]

We just broke through a week straight of -30°C. My TJ unfortunately has to be outside year round but I don’t start my own vehicles in that cold unless they’re garage stored.
There’s really no extra “cold weather periodic maintenance”, switch to a 5w30 full synthetic if needed and run 50/50 antifreeze.
If you’re going to be doing frequent cold starts add a block heater.
A battery warmer blanket would also be an optional extra, I don’t use one but if I did daily cold-starts I would.

 

[Grenadiers]

The temps here in Minnesota lately, have been below zero during the night and day. My Arizona LJ doesn’t have a block heater. But the best next thing is to use a trickle charger on it to maintain the battery. I have the parasitic electrical loss, as it sits for days at a time.

 

[James9100]

The temps here in Minnesota lately, have been below zero during the night and day. My Arizona LJ doesn’t have a block heater. But the best next thing is to use a trickle charger on it to maintain the battery. I have the parasitic electrical loss, as it sits for days at a time.

I really wouldn’t call a trickle charger the next best thing to a block heater as they have a totally different purpose… block heater helps warm your coolant and oil.
Not to say a trickle charger isn’t also helpful though.

 

[wigsajumper]

Would check your coolant mixture. I have never had an issue with "slushy" My jeep is outside all the time up here in Maine. We have had weeks (at times) of -0 degree weather especially at night. Vehicle has always started and ran fine. If the pavement isn't dry I don't drive it so occasionally I will start it and let it run for a while if I haven't driven it for a week or so.

 

[Link]

Slush coolant should be considered an emergency in a cold climate. Get the right mix of anti freeze in there ASAP and run it till it is mixed in.

Hope for your sake it hasn’t frozen solid somewhere inside the engine.

 

[LHC30]

Link, I recognized that way back in Gallup and haven’t had either the time or place (now we’re in an HOA and they hate auto repairs) to fully address the coolant mix but I’m getting there. I run it at length each time I can add (swap) full strength coolant - and so far no sign of damage. Thanks for you post

 

[JKP]

An oil with a 0Wor 5W will flow quicker on cold startup.

My 06 is your 05s twin. Even down here in GA I just run 0W-40 year round. Flows well in the cold, thick enough in the summers.