winter is almost here

[Muck_diesel]

so i have a 90 talon tsi and it is going to be my daily driver and when winter comes i want it in the best shape it can be in......i have seen some pumps i can install into my coolent lines that heats it and pumps it?.....and good ideas or is this ok?

[ErikW]

I don't think so. The water pump is driven by one of your belts. If the car isn't running you might break a seal.
My recommendation is that since Colorado has many cold days, but sunny ones, you could simply park somewhere there is sun shining on it in the morning. The more pricey way. But still affordable. Is to purchase a block warmer. It attaches to the block. Since the block is cast iron, it will transfer the heat nicely to all the needed reciprocating parts inside.
Yet another way is to get a remote starter system. Yes they are used for only automatics, but there is a relatively safe way to have it installed in a manual trans car. You just need a cutout switch in the shift lever or even a second one that senses the emergency brake lever pulled for extra safe measure if you don't ever want the car to roll.
Another option is to simply use 50/50% water and coolant. I'd recommend distilled water rather than tap water. It has a slightly higher boiling point (I hear) and has no minerals to incurrage corrosion.

[Mirage]

No issues with a setup like that when installed properly. Just be sure to install it in a heater hose instead of a radiator hose. That way it allows it to circulate through the head and block instead of trying to flow through a sealed thermostat.

For what it's worth, if you have a good coolant mix (I prefer closer to 65% coolant to water) you will not have any issues as far as freezing the coolant in the block.

These cars warm up very fast as is. I, myself wouldn't worry about installing a block heater here in colorado. If you were in Canuck land or further North, then I'd say definitely do it. Try driving a cold-blooded big block diesel in the winter. EGT's don't even peak 200 degrees 10 minutes after startup.

Marcus

[sbiggi]

My car has always started and warmed up fine in the winter, even when it is -5 deg F.

Just let the car warmup for a couple minutes before you start driving when it is that cold out.
I would normally just set the turbo timer for 10 minutes and take my keys back inside the house and let it warm up.

[BlueVelocity]

I've seen the dipstick warmers for like $20 somewhere. (JC Whitney?) It just replaces the dipstick.

Erron S.

[renovatio]

It should go without saying to use a good low viscosity oil for the winter also. Like 5w-30 to reduced friction on cold start up. I live at 8000ft where
temps can be -20 to 40. And I have never had the need for a block heater (well it might be nice on the -20 days). I just give mine 5-10 minutes to warm up. The important thing is to warm it up slow don't fire it up and go build boost right away. Block heaters are mostly designed for diesels which don't ingnite fuel with out some heat in the combustion chamber. If you do use one be sure to be careful with defrost as the rapid chage in temperature can crack your windshield.