[Vwdiesel] Grumpy starting (was How old is everyone?)

[Erik Lane]

> Speaking of winter, at what temp should you start to use the block heater?
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I start using block heaters when the engines seem to want them. If starting
is getting sluggish and it seems a little hesitant to get up and go then
it's time to plug in the block heater. Depending on the engine and its
condition this will vary. There are times when I'm too busy to do it right
and replace glow plugs when I've had my dad's suburban on the block heater
in summer. I especially don't like crawling around working on a car in the
winter, so sometimes even if it's not super cold out I'll use a block heater
if glow plugs are iffy.

As far as a general rule, somewhere between 20-30F seems when I start
noticing definite improvements with starting with a block heater even when
glow plugs are good. (Well, it always seems to improve the starting - such a
HUGE difference between a cold and warm engine - but I mean the extreme
difference of hardly running/starting vs. starting right up.)

But where I'm at now at school I don't really have the option of using a
block heater. So I don't, and as long as the plugs are good it will still
start, even when good and cold. Though I seem to have a connection getting a
little dirty, because even with this cold it should be doing a bit better
than it has been. I keep meaning to look at that, but between kids and
wife's full time schedule there hasn't been a spare minute. I just keep
hoping I find some time before the car decides for me that it's time!! :)

Erik