Think enegry conservation when using headbolt heater plug-ins

  • Published
  • By 341st Civil Engineer Squadron personnel
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  The winter season and cold weather are here. For those who have headbolt heaters on their vehicles, there are plug-ins located in certain parking lots on base.
 
Even though these plug-ins are available, it is advised to keep your vehicle in good working order. Consider the following:

1. Use a multi-weight oil, such as 10W30. Thirty-weight or higher in wintertime is too stiff and does not allow the engine to easily turn over. Having a lighter weight oil will also save on engine wear.

2. Have your vehicle tuned up. It will start much easier.

3. If your battery is more than five years old, consider purchasing a new one. At least be cognizant of how well your engine turns over in the cold weather as to how trustworthy your battery will be.

4. Always keep your gas tank at least half full. This will help reduce the effect of condensation freezing in your gas lines. Adding an anti-freeze agent to gas, commonly called "HEET," also helps prevent this. There are two different types of additive. One is for vehicles with fuel injection and the other is for vehicles with the older convention carbueration systems in them.

5. Assure your engine coolant has anti-freeze mixture of approximately 50-50. This usually insures it will not freeze down to 30 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit below zero.

When using these parking lot headbolt heater plug-ins, be aware they use a lot of electrical energy. For people in base housing, we have controllers available from Self-Help that turn on and off at certain temperatures. They plug into the outside or garage outlet and the cord plugs into that. This helps by making headbolt heater use more dependent on the outside temperature. 

Needless use of energy is waste. Vehicle Maintenance states that any "cared-for" vehicle will start on its own at least down to zero degrees Fahrenheit. The rule of thumb should be: "Unless it's below zero, don't plug it in!"