Ready for an ADK Winter!

[TacoManiac]

I think Im ready for my first Adirondack winter with the Taco.
- Optima yellow top battery
- Toyota OEM Block heater
- JC Whitney battery heater
- ...and the diff-lock re-wiring done previously.

The block heater, once i found the hole in the block where it went,  was easy to install.   I read somewhere, I dont think on this forum, that taco's are a bit hard starting in cold (<0F),   is that common or any of your experiences?

Its not uncommon to get below zero nighttime temps here,  and -25F and colder is not unheard of.   Im hoping the above quick mods will help.

[mytacoma]

I'm in Michigan and it gets plenty cold here too. Ive never experienced a cold starting issue with mine. I too have a yellow top for insurance. Block heaters are great for getting warmed up faster and it probably helps your oil flow in the cold but I haven't had one on a vehicle since my old 58 ford back in the 80's. Be real carefull with a locked rear on slippery roads. They can be tricky.

[danstoy]

Be real carefull with a locked rear on slippery roads. They can be tricky.

DITTO!

[TacoManiac]

Yes Sir(s), thank you,  I am well aware and experienced with locked diffs going back to my detroit-locked lifted Bronco days.   That difflock is for ~straight, short distance forward motion.   

[danstoy]

I like to drive it locked anyway, 

[mytacoma]

LOL me too Dan. It really helped at the track too. Allowed me to do a 65 mph lap.

[HOODLUM]

I like to drive it locked anyway, 

I do this as well.I went with the blue top instead of the yellow,it's a deeper cycle and seems to be a little bit better for cold starts.But either of them are better than the red.
My 4runner with auto trans has 4.30 gears and I drove through 3ft of snow for 5 hours before I realized that I wasn't in 4wd.It wasn't until I was going up a large hill that I figured it out.

[danstoy]

we carry interstate batteries so thats what I have, the megatron plus has 1000CCA

[HOODLUM]

We use Interstate as well because they are the distibutor for True Start which is Toyotas factory replacement.