Good question.. Do a lot of engine blocks crack under harsh weather conditions or temperature extremes? I would think cold climate engine starts is brutal on a motor, too. I’m gonna try to get 300,000 out of my current motor (1.8T). I baby it like a kid and run fully synthetic motor oil. LOL
100% correct especially if the oil film has run off metal to metal mating surfaces in the interval since the engine was last run.
This is where some synthetics come in really handy, and, even more so, a block heater.
I see you have discovered the synthetics.
Cold starts causing durability problems used to be an issue in the days of 30W oil and carburetors. Slow oil flow and lots of extra gas in the cylinder from chokes.
Now with 5W and 0W oils and computer control, those issues are resolved.
As for running the AC, in Vegas they buy used cop cars with 100,000 miles and run them as cabs to 400,000. You can bet the a/c is on all the time there in the summer.