Keeping battery warm - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

jmazz77 · 01-20-2012, 04:18 PM

My '06 still has the OEM battery in it. It's starting to get cold here and I noticed when it is in the 20's, on cold starts the battery sounds weak.
I am sure it is just b/c of the temperature b/c it is fine otherwise.

Wondering if someone sells a "blanket" I can wrap the battery in to help with the overnight temps..

I know there is a wrap to protect it from heat. Summit Racing sells it. It's like $30. Would that help keep heat in during the winter? Is there something else I could use?

It is parked on the street, so no access to electric to use an electric blanket that they make for them.

I just need it to last till spring/summer, then I will replace it with an Optima Red. I just don't have the money right now.

thanks

MasterTecInSTL · 01-20-2012, 10:53 PM

Since the battery does not generate its own heat a 'blanket' won't help anything.

Simply put, your 6+ year old battery is going bad. Install a new battery and quit overthinking this.

pdq · 01-20-2012, 11:09 PM

The problem in the cold isn't the temperature of the battery; it's the temperature of the engine oil. The oil viscosity increases, making it much harder to crank the engine over.

Save your $30 towards a new battery when your OEM one dies.

invader · 01-21-2012, 12:35 AM

A battery warmer works as it should, although you better just get a new battery when the time comes... What really helps for easier starts and reduced strain on engine, is by pre-warming it with a block heater as I have on mine. Available from Toyota dealer, it clips into a cavity in the cylinder block and is easy enough to install. You can get a Philips&Temro ZeroStart # 310-0129 for about half the cost.

http://www.woodys-auto-supply.com/au...d=ZRO-310-0129

http://www.phillipsandtemro.com/heating_technology/

Synthetic oil helps as well.

MasterTecInSTL · 01-22-2012, 12:31 PM

My point is that battery blankets won't make a worn out battery work like it should. It may help with EXTREME temperatures and a healthy battery but I hardly think that mid 20's is extreme. Mid -20's maybe. And this battery is far from healthy.

Jmazz could probably go to a junkyard and get a used battery for less than a blanket would cost him. It would be more cost effective to go this route than to waste money on a battery blanket or heater that simply isn't needed.

Believe me I understand about money being tight and all they but use some common sense here and don't WASTE any of it.