Use of telescope in cold weather?

I have a Meade ETX-80 AT TC telescope, great scope no doubt. Well my problem now is that I live in Minnesota, where the weather is outrageous during winter. When I bring my scope outside in about 15-30 degrees Fahrenheit, after a few minuets the scope freezes, tracks/slews really slow, hand-box scrolls text slowly, sounds horrible ETC. Basically it does freeze, grease on gears probably hardens. Anyway is this common with better scopes because I think its the grease being used I think it is real cheap (china) grease which Hardens at the temps I use it at during winter. Is this the problem, can I get better grease for it to solve its freezing problem? I do have a plan to shape a heating coil blanket around the base and another for the hand-box but if all I need is better grease, that would make things more simpler. Please help, Thanks, Tom.