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JCL · #13 11-30-2008, 11:05 PM

Sergey77:

Lots of questions there, so I will throw my $0.02 in and let others add to it:

1) Assume there is no chance of an electric plug-in for your vehicle in either parking location. It there is, I would use a battery blanket (like a heating pad) to ensure enough cold cranking amps. You can add an in-car heater to it as well, for comfort.
2) You should be OK with 5-30 oil (full synthetic) as the cold cranking test (ASTM D5293) is at -30C, the pumpability test (ASTM D4684) is at -35C. You could go to 0-30 oil in those temperatures quite comfortably, in my opinion. If the vehicle won't turn over, you have heavier oil or a weak battery. Buy a stronger battery.
3) The short trips are brutal on the engine in those temperatures. Idling it to warm the engine will just make that worse. If you have to drive those short trips, make sure you maintain the crankcase ventilation system (oil separator). Have it cleaned out every year. If the white/grey paste is showing up under the oil filler cap, flush the engine with clean oil and get the engine good and hot by driving it, then change the oil again.
4) The Webasto is a good system, and should have a circuit in it to confirm battery voltage. If it is flattening the battery then set the timer differently. It doesn't use the battery for heat, simply for the circulating pump and the timer.
5) Not sure what JDM means. Japanese Domestic Market?
6) You can use a remote starter. As you point out, it is hard on the engine. You would need to maintain the crankcase ventilation valve and associated lines regularly, and change the oil more often.

There is no single answer. I wouldn't go with the Porsche, but that is just me. Any car can have challenges at those temperatures, and in those driving conditions. You seem to have a good sense of what those challenges are.

Good luck.

Jeff

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