Whilst trying to have a nice smoke last night around 21:30 (estimated temp at least -10° C) I couldn't keep the tobacco lit. This go 'round I did purchase good tobacco instead of the cheap "Captain Black" shit available at 7-11, which due to its higher moisture content (because it's fresh) is harder to get lit and is more prone to being packed overtightly. However, the tobacco was well packed this time, with a good draw and I got a good blaze going right away on account of having just filled the Zippo with fluid. I ended up giving up half way through because all my attempts at keeping it lit had led to it being packed tight and then crispified.

Anyway, I got to thinking. It is a given that cold temperatures cause trouble for IC engines, particular compression ignition engines, because the cold air robs heat from the engine block which aids in combustion. Why wouldn't the same principle apply to in-pipe-o tobacconic combustion? It is possible that fuel combustion in an IC engine is more precisely controlled and therefore more susceptible to variant conditions than burning some tobacco, but I don't think that is likely. I'm provisionally going to go with the assumption that the same principle applies to both the contained combustion in a pipe as in a engine cylinder.

Incidentally, if you were wondering, the green "bug removing" Rain-X wiper fluid turns to slush around -10° C. Don't forget to switch over to the orange "De-icing" Rain-X fluid before your first cold snap.