the original temperature referenced was negative 18 C.  That converts to negative 0.4 F, which is close enough to 0 F for purposes of this discussion.

---- Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
> That should have been -18C.
> Sorry
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Karl Wolz [mailto:wolzphoto@q.com]
> Sent: Sunday, January 3, 2016 1:32 PM
> To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
> Subject: Re: Warming the oil in cold weather?
>
> I think your math is off, since o
> 0C = 32F, or freezing.
>
> Karl Wolz
> Sent from my electronic umbilicus
>
> > On Jan 3, 2016, at 10:54 AM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
> wrote:
> >
> > If I did the math right 18C is about 0F. That choice of oil is OK but the
> slow cranking-ignition is a sign of something not quite right. I would check
> the battery voltage while cranking and if possible the starter current draw.
>
> >
> > As for that lamp affecting your electric bill even on Long Island we pay
> >$.20 per kilowatt hour. I'm sure your rate is somewhat less. 500W is .5kwh
> so even at our rates that is $.10 per hour.
> >
> > Dennis
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> > Behalf Of Robert Fisher
> > Sent: Sunday, January 3, 2016 11:09 AM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: Re: Warming the oil in cold weather?
> >
> > Now that I live in eastern Canada, I run the 5W50 (used to run 20W50 in
> the Cali desert). I've started my '87 GL (2.1; auto) several times in as low
> as -16C and haven't had any issues other than the expected slow cranking /
> slow ignition - and that with the cold start valve disconnected. I try not
> to drive the van in winter due to the salt, etc., but I haven't done
> anything special to the engine or battery (other than topping off the charge
> now and again), and it's performed normally under those conditions.
> > YMMV.
> >
> > My Canadian Chevy daily driver has the obligatory block heater with a -18C
> thermostat/cutoff in it; that -18C seems to be the standard point of
> concern, if you will, for these parts. I haven't, and wouldn't, attempt to
> start either vehicle at or below those temps without some sort of heat
> intervention first.
> >
> > FWIW, I used to put a 500W Halogen lamp, pointed up, under my diesel-fired
> pressure washer in the hour before I needed to use it on those odd nights
> when the temps were low enough to cause me concern. It worked a peach, even
> if it was a little hard on the electric bill.
> >
> > Robert
> >
> >> On Sun, Jan 3, 2016 at 4:43 AM, Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@q.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> Had a teacher way back in high school tell the class to never buy a
> >> truck from "up on the Rez", because they commonly would park their
> >> trucks against the house and run it all night with the heater going
> >> full blast to provide warmth inside the house.
> >>
> >> Karl Wolz
> >> Sent from my electronic umbilicus
> >>
> >>>> On Jan 2, 2016, at 11:59 PM, Mark Tuovinen <aksyncronaut@GMAIL.COM>
> >>> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> Last but not least and used for decades in some parts of Alaska and
> >>> other cold climates best left to creatures other than human you can
> >>> always get
> >> it
> >>> started and leave it running until Spring arrives.  i don't
> >>> recommend
> >> this
> >>> option especially with a Vanagon but it does work.  It is also why
> >>> used trucks from the North Slope are a bad investment, way too much
> >>> idling for their low mileage.  Years ago I worked in the Parts Dept
> >>> of a Ford dealership and we sold reman. engines like they were
> >>> popcorn to the
> >> Slope.
> >>>
> >>> Mark in AK
> >>>
> >>> On Sat, Jan 2, 2016 at 2:04 PM, Rocket J Squirrel <
> >> camping.elliott@gmail.com
> >>>> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> On 01/02/2016 02:35 PM, Richard Smith wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>> All of our vehicles had block heaters. The vws had a circular thing
> >>>>> under the centre of the crankcase. They also had a "battery blanket"
> >>>>> to keep the battery warm. Vanagons have no space for those, but
> >>>>> they were essential back in the day.
> >>>>
> >>>> Seems like there'd be enough space for something like this:
> >>>>
> >>>> <
> >> http://www.autozone.com/1/products/18125-battery-pad-heater-22400-kat
> >> s
> >> -heaters-22400.html
> >>>>
> >>>> --
> >>>> Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
> >>>> 1984 Westfalia, auto trans,
> >>>> Bend, Ore.
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Cya,
> > Robert
> >
> > '87 2.1/Auto GL

--
David McNeely