Thread: Which FUEL is best in FREEZING Climate - Petrol or Diesel?

Modern vehicles have start/stop systems and what not so they use AGM batteries which is an advantage in cold climates; they provide more CCA compared to flooded. Although starting and running a modern engine in colder climates is fairly comparable, unless you go REALLY low (say -35 and beyond where petrol will edge out imho) there is also the minor little point of driver comfort. Modern frugal diesel engines simple do not heat up enough to be able to spare enough warmth to warm your interior. A less frugal petrol engine will have the edge here. My dad used to own a volvo V70 petrol and was nice and warm in winter (indeed with a block heater and interior heater so he got into a warm car to start with) but his current KIA eco diesel POS simply can't get the temp up (enough) in mid winter.

Mind you, my P38 with very frugal V8, of course, had no problem whatsoever keeping us nice and warm inside all the way

Cheers,
-P

Originally Posted by prelude

Modern vehicles have start/stop systems and what not so they use AGM batteries which is an advantage in cold climates; they provide more CCA compared to flooded. Although starting and running a modern engine in colder climates is fairly comparable, unless you go REALLY low (say -35 and beyond where petrol will edge out imho) there is also the minor little point of driver comfort. Modern frugal diesel engines simple do not heat up enough to be able to spare enough warmth to warm your interior. A less frugal petrol engine will have the edge here. My dad used to own a volvo V70 petrol and was nice and warm in winter (indeed with a block heater and interior heater so he got into a warm car to start with) but his current KIA eco diesel POS simply can't get the temp up (enough) in mid winter.

Mind you, my P38 with very frugal V8, of course, had no problem whatsoever keeping us nice and warm inside all the way

Cheers,
-P

I presume you are using a radiator cover in the winter - helps with keeping things warm!

Originally Posted by prelude

Mind you, my P38 with very frugal V8, of course, had no problem whatsoever keeping us nice and warm inside all the way

Cheers,
-P

Being a Land Rover it would normally keep you warm without using the heater.

It does have a radiotor cover and some other gadgetry, I do not know how it works

The problem is compounded by road conditions however, small winding roads and ice do not match well so you have to adjust your driving style, even though in all months with an "r" (so september through to april) they drive with studded tyres. The engine is loaded a lot less and even less heat is produced. The trip to the nearest supermarket is 60K's though so eventually things might get warm.

-P

Originally Posted by crash

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LPG can be a real bugger in the cold, and vehicles with LPG were a lot harder to start than any petrol or diesel.

Not just vehicles suffer with LPG, it can be difficult to light a gas ring in the cold, basically because not enough gas is "boiling off" due to the low temps i,e, most of the bottle content is liquid.

But don't be tempted to heat the gas bottle on an electric hotplate, as I knew a fridgie who tried this with a refrigeration bottle at a Telecom site, but got an urgent call out and forgot about the bottle, when he returned he said the workshop door looked like match wood lying in the yard.

You use vaporizers for LPG when it is cold. You can use it at any temperature.