Abacus
That helpful B4 guy
It gets a tad cold here in Maine. I always use an additive (white Power Service) and have never had fuel gel but have had to rescue several people who didn't add it, they all do now. The fuel here is winterized but still gels, FWIW.
I added a battery blanket and it's been a great addition. I don't use it at work since there is no outlet. On the sedan I use an oil pan heater, which does help. I also installed one on the wagon (we have steel oil pans) despite it having a block heater (not a Frostheater). These are on timers that come on 4 hours before I leave for work and all the plugs are tied to a junction so there is only one plug I need to worry about. Prior to a few years ago I had no additional heaters but they do make a huge difference. The coldest I've started my TDI unaided was -35°F in the White Mountains and it ran fine but not smoothly for the first few minutes.
Last year was the first time I ran a front (homemade) grill block and I am sold on them. The Scangauge usually won't read above 160°F when moving and with the block it easily and quickly comes up to temperature and stays there until I am at idle, when it'll drop. The thermostats are new and functioning fine.
I added a battery blanket and it's been a great addition. I don't use it at work since there is no outlet. On the sedan I use an oil pan heater, which does help. I also installed one on the wagon (we have steel oil pans) despite it having a block heater (not a Frostheater). These are on timers that come on 4 hours before I leave for work and all the plugs are tied to a junction so there is only one plug I need to worry about. Prior to a few years ago I had no additional heaters but they do make a huge difference. The coldest I've started my TDI unaided was -35°F in the White Mountains and it ran fine but not smoothly for the first few minutes.
Last year was the first time I ran a front (homemade) grill block and I am sold on them. The Scangauge usually won't read above 160°F when moving and with the block it easily and quickly comes up to temperature and stays there until I am at idle, when it'll drop. The thermostats are new and functioning fine.