Forum

[Craig]

With temp set to plummet[-18 shock Horror:News Paper etc] I was thinking At what temperature do we Need to think carefully about engine running Etc (Anti freeze in ya oil?) ....
I Use My 350 std (Iron Engine 4speed) daily for work, and it lives Out side in a sheltered Spot under canvas:SO...On A Normal Cold Day ..Few Kicks to Release Clutch..Extra Tickle and 30 sec warm up then Off...
But Can OIL Frezze!....Can ya Clutch Freeze solid.....Kills a Battery..(In Russia Petrol frezzes).....
Just wondering as I Leave Bessie Out side till Monday :0( (She should Live inside In the Kitchen ofcourse).......So A "Just Wondering Thread"...Take care Out there..Cheers Craig

[neddy]

Nothing to worry about an Enfield being to cold here, just keep cables well oiled, dont want them not to work.

[Phil Ashbrook]

In Canada they plug their cars in at night to a heater element in the sump to stop the oil freezing or you could light a fire under the engine as per Scott of the Antarctic or you could wrap an electric blanket around the engine .

[Alan R]

Hi guys -------- CRAIG, straight answer is YES, oil can freeze just like anything else, but is it LIKELY to ?? No, not really unless the wind-chill factor magnifies things.. My last job pre-retirement was as a civilian Senior Craft Technician with the British Army here in Donnington, Telford and ---amongst other things ---- helped prepare AFV's ( Armoured Fighting Vehicles) for Winter deployment to BATUS, Canada (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Ar ... t_Suffield )...part of which entailed fitting an upgraded filter mesh--ie larger holes--in the semi-automatic gearboxes in the CVRT's (Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance, Tracked)-- As PHIL ASHBROOK mentioned sump warming was employed on site as well...... Prior to that I was with the Royal Mail Transport and spent many a winter recovering HGV's, light vans etc from remote farms or Motorway breakdowns.....In both cases rest assured we never had any oil freeze BUT} Diesel fuel--- if left untreated--- can start to separate-out it's wax content (GRUNDA--don't forget those additives !!)... NEDDY's advice to keep the cables well oiled is sound..It's in weather like this you realise why we DON'T grease them.. I would use that electric blanket idea PLUS let the engine/gearbox assy. warm up a bit longer, maybe whilst you are "kitting-up"..as that VEEDOL stuff in the gearbox can be quite thick initially... Finally, if you want 4-stroke piston engines operating in REALLY cold conditions then do you remember these guys ??}-------------------------- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_Pilots_NWT ------------

[Craig]

Thanks for the replies : Yes Stiff Cables & wheel Bearings expected...
It Was The engine I was thinking about...... " I will continue to use Ol' Bessie as she Enjoys this rough weather"..It was More of the Standing & Freezing worries (If You Belive the Press) of -18?? etc.....Mean while on the Russian front some Ural 650's are banging along at 1 30...;0)..........................
Lastly, Sump heaters ,Electric blankets? maybee another Dusbin bag on Top & a dose of 2st Oil in the tank to help ;0)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_Pilots_NWT

[Craig]

If This Picture works Pic of My Bike & Workshop Today :0)

[Alan R]

----------- Scully, it's out there---somewhere !!