Cold Temp Performance of GC - Impressed

[BigJohn]

I was not happy that I had to trudge out in the weather on Wednesday morning and start up my 2009 Passat.

The ambient temp was - 20.5 and the wind chills were negative 40 to negative 50 degrees with the nasty wind. I honestly and finally understand the statement, "I felt my skin freezing."

So....I slide into the seat....and with a hollow feeling in the pit of my stomach.....I push in the key fob.

WOW....she just turned right over and fired up. She was just a bit noisier than if it were 30 degrees....but it was an awesome experience.

On the other hand, some of you may have read about my woes with our Toyota 4Runner. My son is driving a rent car. A 2010 Dodge Caliber with....I am sure....5w20 dino. That thing sounds like a Diesel falling apart!!!

 

[ARB1977]

Wednesday mornining wind chills were -10. Never experienced that. AFE did awesome.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: BigJohn
The ambient temp was - 20.5 and the wind chills were negative 40 to negative 50 degrees with the nasty wind.

Just FYI, machines don't feel wind chill.

 

[Arnaldo]

I just learned from Bob that thicker oil does no translate into more protection from friction/heat. Wow! Am I doing the right thing by shifting from 10W30 to 5W30?? That's what I gathered from his "101-109" lessons. Please correct me if I'm wrong--since my native language is Spanish, I don't wanna risk having misunderstood any of the valuable info' he posted!
THANKS!!!

 

[Audi Junkie]

In PR, you don't need a 5w30 at all. 10w30 may work better in general for you. No big deal either way.

 

[Steve S]

Originally Posted By: Arnaldo
I just learned from Bob that thicker oil does no translate into more protection from friction/heat. Wow! Am I doing the right thing by shifting from 10W30 to 5W30?? That's what I gathered from his "101-109" lessons. Please correct me if I'm wrong--since my native language is Spanish, I don't wanna risk having misunderstood any of the valuable info' he posted!
THANKS!!!
Not really. Oil 101 is poor.

 

[shpankey]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: BigJohn
The ambient temp was - 20.5 and the wind chills were negative 40 to negative 50 degrees with the nasty wind.

Just FYI, machines don't feel wind chill.


Why do they have fans in front of them then?

 

[CATERHAM]

Oil in a cold start will not be colder than the ambient temperature
even if your car is parked in blizzard.

Once the engine is running and you're getting some heat into the oil air flow, particularly over a finned sump or oil cooler will of course draw away the heat quite effectively.

It's the reason I cover the ali' sumps on a couple of my cars in the cooler weather to try to keep an adequate amount of heat in the oil.

 

[Doug Hillary]

Hi,
CATERHAM - I agree with you - getting an engine's lubricant up to an "acceptable" operating temperature can be an issue. Acceptable to me is between 92-104C

This is one reason why expensive engines often have heat exchangers fitted and why temperature controlled fans are so valuable. Even with my Boxster (mid engined) in the Tropics (summer cold start 23-26C - max 40C+) the cooling system's fans are seldom on for long

In my heavy (Class 8 - 500hp) trucks the thermo ECM controlled air pressure activated fans were seldom on for more that 20 seconds at a time