Just moved to Montana about 3 months ago. Apparently, it gets cold here. I'm curious if any of you have used oil pan heaters and if you have any suggestions as to what I should be slapping up against my oil pan in order to not starve out my XJ and kill it. Oh yeah, I also need one for my non-XJ driving spouse. She drives a 2001 Mazda Tribute with the 3.0 liter V-6.
TIA
Scott

 

IMO block and oil pan heaters are good for the crazy extreme cold... If the temp outside (not wind chill factor) doesn't go below zero fahrenheit much you should be okay with using 5W-30 in the winter months (suggestion from the owner's manual).

 

X2

we get some good below 0 temps here and i don't use one. just a thinner oil for the winter, i run 15W40 in the summer

 

Okay, unfortunately, the temperature here does drop below zero, the average temps here in December are 17 degrees. I just wasn't sure what would be the best option in regards to oil pan heaters. I have to drive 56 miles a day for work and would rather not starve my XJ and be stuck in a snowdrift.
Keep the opinions coming so I can weigh my options.
Thanks guys.
Scott

 

where do u get a oil pan heater

 

Even with lighter oil you can ruin stuff by running too cold. My brother blew up a starter last winter in Laramie, the engine basically seized because it was 30 below zero.

 

yes like i said in extreme temps block heaters are necessary.

so I am not wasting more space here...

universal mount magnet style
http://www.jcwhitney.com/magnet-moun.../p2000836.jcwx

oil pan mount permanent style
http://www.jcwhitney.com/oil-pan-hea.../p2005253.jcwx

 

I run both a block heater and an oil pan heater, I even used to have a battery blanket. of course around here its not uncommon to see -50 for weeks on end