Sprinters are great vehicles that come highly recommended for vandwelling. But in order for a diesel engine to manage the extreme forces of a real Canadian winter there are some tips and tricks that we’ve had to learn, usually the hard way.
Our van has had to endure temperatures down to -50…which is -58 for you Americans with your fancy shmancy Fahrenheit.
However, it’s a lot more common for the van to experience temperatures in the -20s (-4 in American) for two to three months of the year. In a previous post I mentioned that E and I can often seek shelter indoors when it gets ultra cold, but our poor van has never had the luxury of a heated garage. Here are the methods and equipment we use to make sure all goes well on those chilly mornings.
- Chanting, fasting, and sacrificing a Buick to the car gods
- Filling the tank with good fuel
This may come as a surprise, but Big Ed’s Friendly Gassery may not have the best quality fuel. And chances are, their diesel has been sitting around in a half-full tank collecting condensation. Condensation = water. Water in your fuel = bad. Water in your fuel in the winter = very bad, because it freezes. This is why anti-gelling products exist. So folks, buy your fuel from name brand, recognizable chains. Try to hit up the ones along highways that serve transport trucks: The busier, the better.
If this advice has come too late for you, try the following options.
- Add Power Service’s Diesel 911 (read the instructions)
- Replace your fuel filter
- If it starts, keep driving it and adding good fuel to try and flush out the bad
- Use Stanadyne anti gel fuel additive thereafter
If possible, keep the vehicle in a heated garage until the bad fuel works its way out. Think of the van as your digestive system after being food poisoned. Those dollar store clams may have been cheaper than their grocery store counterparts, but what you gained in savings you have lost in the ability to operate independently from a toilet seat.
- Using Stanadyne anti gelling fuel additive
Just dump that bottle into the fuel tank once a month. In the winter, do it twice a month. - Installing a trickle charger
We purchased Associated Equipment’s Atec 12v fully automatic underhood battery charger. We don’t really understand how it works so can only conclude there are elves inside of it, but the point is, it provides 1.5 amps of output and has the capacity to bring our battery back from the dead.
- Carrying a battery starter
Our new favourite item is the Noco 12v Genius Boost HD lithium jump starter. That thing is a powerful little machine, and a heck of a lot easier to carry around than a lead battery starter. Plus it’s more practical on isolated stretches of road when you may not be able to get a boost. - Using a space heater (with both 750w and 1500w settings)
You know those old fire trap space heaters that still functioned even when they tipped over onto their side? Those are perfect for heating up your engine! Not unlike myself, diesels despise the cold, so do them a favour by opening the hood and tucking in a nice warm space heater. It helps to whisper a reassuring “There there. You’ll be warm soon.” - Having a generator as a backup
In a previous post about vehicle maintenance in the winter I mentioned we bought a Honda 2000w generator. Our block heater, trickle charger, and space heater are all powered by electricity, but there may be a time when we can’t plug in. We’ve been assured by the manufacturer and salespeople that our generator can do the job (and even has a built in trickle charger of its own) but we’ve never had to put it to the test so I remain suspicious.
- Having a block heater
Unless you live in southwest British Columbia, this is a given. - Plug in the household batteries whenever possible.
In a previous page I mentioned we have a couple deep cycle gel batteries powering the van’s interior. It’s probably a good idea to give them a break from the cold every now and then if you have the chance. - Idleness is not the devil’s workshop. The first time you power up the van on a cold morning, let it just sit there for a bit, chugging away. Idling to get warm is like the van having it’s first cup of coffee and it will be grateful.
- Erm…clean the snow off the exterior power plug…
You know, because you can’t plug it in to anything if it’s a solid block of ice. Sigh.
So this might sound like work and money, and it sort of is. But it’s the reality of how the two of us take care of a diesel engine when we are faced with bouts of extreme cold (gotta be prepared).
Another thing about diesels: Think of them as dogs, they love to go on car rides. So once you’re on the road in the winter give the engine a bit of a workout and see the sights. Just don’t put your head out the window.
Below are photos of all the products we mentioned.
