[Repeat Offender]

My dad used to do it..........with his semi. Ground clearance is a bit higher than a minivan. He had an engine block heater, but sometimes the truck stops would turn off the outlets in the lots.

Dad had a small metal bowl he would burn charcoal in to heat the block.

[Recompennation]

I tell you desperate times call for desperate measures.
Cold starts and diesel engines don’t cooperate. Years past has seen it all and done most of it. A tire burning under a 2000 ford offset diesel tractor engine on a cold morning in a snow storm comes to mind but back then plastic wasn’t prevalent tractor flesh.

[DManA]

My dad too. He had a torch that could attach to a small LPGas tank. You could aim the flame right on the oil pan.

[CurlyDave]

Dad had a small metal bowl he would burn charcoal in to heat the block.

I have done this before with no troubles, the emphasis is on the small.

I had an older Dodge van, which would not start in the cold. I put three charcoal briquettes in a small stainless steel dog food bowl, covered with lighter fluid and started. When the flames got down I would push the bowl under the engine and go inside for coffee. In 20 minutes, the engine would always start.

No more than 3 briquettes, and all is well. Too many and the car is toast.