Actually, it does help with starting. But only when things are so cold that the lubrication gets thick. This would be well below zero F. In places like Alaska or the frigid wasteland that xviper lives in, people routinely plug their block heaters in overnight to make sure the oil will flow in the morning. It also protects against the coolant freezing.

And if the coolant freezes, the block does not crack. Instead, plugs in the block (called "freeze plugs") will sacrifice themselves first. Having the freeze plugs pop out is bad, but not as bad as if they weren't there (in which case the block really would crack).

 

Does this mean there is a market 0-20 weight motor oil afterall?

I have pondered the purpose of those seemingly useless plugs. Cool.

 

yeah, just pound'em back in with a 2x4 when things thaw out (you do it quick enough and you don't even need to add water afterwards)

 

 

Now THAT'S some good stuff, PWR.