Plug it in. That is the first piece of advice from the Alberta Motor Association as they have been stretched to their limits with service calls. AMA says calls are currently five times the normal amount for this time of year. In Grande Prairie wait times were up to five hours for a tow or three hours for a boost. Randy Loyk with AMA says he would plug in anytime the temperatures dip below -15.
“Many people assume that newer vehicles don’t need the extra help but in these temperatures, it’s incredibly hard on an engine’s components to turn over if the block heater hasn’t been plugged-in.”
Other tips from AMA include topping up all fluids, driving to the conditions and allowing extra time to get where you are going. They also recommend an emergency roadside kit in your vehicle. It should include a first-aid kit, blanket, warm clothes, phone charger, sand, road salt or non-clumpy kitty litter, ice scraper and snow brush, shovel, flashlight with spare batteries, and food/water