extreme cold pending for DFW...

[Patman]

Are the Canada guys here laughing at this storm? Or is this storm bad?

It’s going to probably be the biggest storm we’ve seen in Southern Ontario in a couple of years but we’ve had worse. And the people of Buffalo NY will think this is nothing. They’ve had multiple storms in the past decade where they had 6 or 7 FEET of snow in a timespan of 2-5 days.

 

[Snagglefoot]

The auto part stores have been marketing what is basically alcohol in a pressurized spray can. I stole the idea and use windshield washer fluid in a spray bottle to detail the side windows and the section of the windshield the wipers don’t get. Also, wired rear window defrosters we’re a great invention. By the way, it’s common here to leave the windshield wipers in the up position overnight when parked outside during a snowstorm to keep them from freezing to the glass.

 

[Patman]

By the way, it’s common here to leave the windshield wipers in the up position overnight when parked outside during a snowstorm to keep them from freezing to the glass.

That practice isn’t a smart one. What if one of the wipers snaps back hard onto the windshield? It could crack it.

 

[Snagglefoot]

That practice isn’t a smart one. What if one of the wipers snaps back hard onto the windshield? It could crack it.

Oh posh! Better yet. Bollocks.

 

[Japanese]

The good thing is that after -6 degrees (-40 real feel), 10 degrees feels very warm. (picture from Friday)

 

[barkingspider]

For the people who have 5w30 in their engines and park their vehicles outside in this weather, do your vehicles start like normal or does it struggle a bit due to the cold?

 

[Pew]

For the people who have 5w30 in their engines and park their vehicles outside in this weather, do your vehicles start like normal or does it struggle a bit due to the cold?

Struggles a little bit the lower it gets but attribute that to everything else in the car cold, not the oil.

 

[Dave Hess]

That practice isn’t a smart one. What if one of the wipers snaps back hard onto the windshield? It could crack it.

What about laying blankets on glass and not have wipers in the air ?

 

[Patman]

What about laying blankets on glass and not have wipers in the air ?

I have seen people do that and then the blankets get blown around in the wind

 

[RooflessVW]

I have seen people do that and then the blankets get blown around in the wind

Supposed to shut the blanket in the front doors

 

[slo town]

Sue and I lived in Colorado for 26 months. One time we went skiing at Monarch Mountain and made a late night drive home via Hwy 24 between Johnson City and Woodland Park, which is a good 70 or 80 mile stretch of remote two lane highway. This part of Hwy 24 is in a high mountain valley (9,000 feet IIRC). The roadway and surrounding plateau was so flat I could barely identify the roadway surface. It wasn't actively snowing but everything was covered with a two inch layer of snow, rendering the roadway virtually invisible.

This section of highway is out in the middle of NOWHERE and we were the ONLY ONES on the road - and I mean that literally. At one point I remember looking down at the outside temp on the dash and it read -17F.

Being Californians and relatively new to these conditions, only later did I realize how foolish it was for us to drive home that night. But I drove carefully and we made it home safe and sound, but it had a serious pucker factor that I'll never forget. It wasn't necessarily the cold, per se, it was being on a remote and desolate mountain highway late at night that was the foolish part. We didn't know any better.

Scott

 

[tired]

One of the temperatures at which any 40 grade oil passes the torch/flag to the 5W-30 and 0W-20 oils.

For those who fear the thickness...

 

[Japanese]

For those who fear the thickness...

What is the lowest temp. you have started a car and with what oil?

I have started at:
15*F with conventional 10W30 (had changed it right the way, the same day)
5*F and 0*F with conventional and full synth. 5W30
5*F, 0*F, and -6*F with full synth. 0W-20

The difference is that with 0W-20 the engine always starts at the first crank (at any of those temps.) and doesn't sound any different/weird compared to any higher temp.

With the other oils (especially the conventional ones) the engine sounds like a farm diesel tractor the first a few/several minutes.

I usually avoid to start a car at 5*F and below, if it isn't necessary.

 

[tired]

What is the lowest temp. you have started a car and with what oil?

I have started at:
15*F with conventional 10W30 (had changed it right the way, the same day)
5*F and 0*F with conventional and full synth. 5W30
5*F, 0*F, and -6*F with full synth. 0W-20

The difference is that with 0W-20 the engine always starts at the first crank (at any of those temps.) and doesn't sound any different/weird compared to any higher temp.

With the other oils (especially the conventional ones) the engine sounds like a farm diesel tractor the first a few/several minutes.

I usually avoid to start a car at 5*F and below, if it isn't necessary.

Not sure how it’s relevant to the discussion, but I will humor you.

Lowest start for me: -25F (absolute temp, not wind chill). Multiple starts at -20F and below. Countless below 0F.

Oil: BMW LL-01 5W-30.

No issues ever. I trust the science behind winter grades.

I should add the engine ran great for years after those starts. It did just as well in 114F weather later on.

 

[Z28racecar]

I work nights at a hospital in Fort Worth. I drive 30 minutes each way from a rural area. I35 was treated the night before the "storm". I drove between 50 and 60 on the way back home the first night. It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it was, but I also have a Z71 Silverado 2500 with BFG T/A KO3s. Never had a traction issue.

Currently using Pennzoil Ultra Platinum 0w40 for my break in oil changes.

 

[Japanese]

No issues ever. I trust the science behind winter grades.

I didn't say I had issues with any of those oils.

I just said I found difference in how my engines sound and because of that I don't think the lubrication is optimal at lower temps., especially with conventional and synth. blend 10W-30 and 5W-30 oils.

What issue you can have with higher viscosity in extreme cold?
You either won't be able to start the engine or start it and have not optimal lubrication (the second one you'll never know until later time).

 

[Japanese]

No issues ever. I trust the science behind winter grades.

Can you use an oil which borderline pumping is at 0*F when the forecast says 1*F?
For reference: 0*F, 1*F, and 2*F are all within one dagree Celsius. Meaning in Celsius 0*F and 1*F is the same degree.

 

[michaelluscher]

All those lingering cold start problems and bypassed heater cores coming back to bite
In all seriousness, I hope the grid doesn't fail you this time

 

[gfh77665]

Generator is ready in case the Texas grid fails again.

The grid is not failing. When icy limbs break off trees and knock down a power line, that's not a grid issue.

 

[tired]

I didn't say I had issues with any of those oils.

This sure sounded like an issue to me:

With the other oils (especially the conventional ones) the engine sounds like a farm diesel tractor the first a few/several minutes.

especially with conventional and synth. blend 10W-30 and 5W-30 oils.

I don’t know anyone who runs these or recommends them to anyone. Interesting straw man.

Can you use an oil which borderline pumping is at 0*F when the forecast says 1*F?

Personally, yes, easily, especially from HPL. I think there is a lot of headroom with their 10W-xx oils. But if it makes you sleep easier, get the 5W-40.

Do whatever you like for your own car. Just don’t make recommendations to others based on your own biases that aren’t rooted in science, because how you think your car sounds. That’s my only objection. Good luck.