Winterizing

[Mary Ann]

Last year we bought an 1977 American Clipper, 440 and love it. We live in Alaska, in the winter our vehicles have to be winterized.  In winterizing you have to change the oil to a 5 weight oil.  Also the antifreeze has to be rated to -50 below minimum. We have to have battery blankets, and block heaters to keep your vehicles from freezing up. Does anyone know if a block heater or a circulating heater would be better it keep our Clipper heated. We would like to take it ice fishing this winter.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.  

[Guinnessecco]

Take a look here. http://hometown.aol.com/universalenghtr/myhomepage/business.html I would go with a propane heater which is good to minus 40 degrees.  You already have propane onboard and it is nice to get the engine going when you are away from an electrical power source.  If you have a generator on the RV that will start at minus 40 degrees, then an electrical heater would work, and also be able to warm up the battery.  I would use 5-30 Castrol synthetic oil for the engine and synthetic transmission fluid and differentual lube.  Might even consider synthetic power steering.  If no such thing exists, call Red Line Synthetic and ask for engineering. There is more friction at low temperature, and the condensation with acid build up is also a problem.  Your engines last only about half as long up there because of the cold, say compared to California.