Car not Starting in cold

I have a 1994 Volvo 850, less than 140k.
It really has troubles starting in -25c weather and sometimes does not
start at all when it is that cold. I got a Block heater installed
last year and it seems to do the trick but I am worried about the days
when I travel and can not plug the car in. I suggested to my garage
(Volvo Dealership) to use 10w30 oil, but they suggested to me that
Canada (Ontario) was not cold enough... what do you guys think my
troubles may be???

Any input will help.
thanks
S.

 

At that temperature yes you should be using 10w-30 or even thinner- a 0w-30
perhaps.

in what way is it not starting? Cranking too slow it cant start, or just
spinning over and not attempting to fire?

Start off by making sure the Battery is in good order and the biggest
capacity that will fit, and that HT components are all in 1st class order-
plugs, leads, cap and rotor arm...

Tim..

 

It's probably the battery. We only have 550CCA in our 960, and sometimes she
turns a little slow when it's really cold, but it does start first crank, no
problems. As for checking the cap and rotor arm... Doesn't the 850 engine
use electronically controlled coils?

We are also in Ontario.
" Tim (Remove NOSPAM. Registry corupted, reformated HD and lost alot of

 

No, only 99 onwards S/ V 70's use coil on plug ignition. Everything else
upto then uses traditional ditrubutor, HT leads, and single coil.

Tim..