My '89 Volvo LOVES cold ... and it has the best heater I've ever had. '84 carbureted Honda runs like sheite when cold. I guess the vacuum, electrical, spring and thermally operated functions of the choke don't stand up over time.
How's your car behave in the cold?
- Thread starter Brogy
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Funny you ask, cause my new 07 Accord V6 runs "rough" for the first 1-2 miles when it's cold outside (not bitter cold, just normal cold, like below 40. And this is garage kept. After a couple of miles, during which I don't push it hard, I can almost feel it instantly smooth out, then I'm up to regular highway speeds and everything is smooth as silk from there on. I can't tell if it's in the engine or transmission or some combination, but it's definitely in the driveline. And it's not flatspotting on the tires either.
I wish I knew why it did that, and if there's a problem.
I wish I knew why it did that, and if there's a problem.
When it's below zero (F) my cars feel a little stiff for the first couple of miles, but otherwise are just like always. Twenty years ago, back in the 10w40 days, there would be all manner of underhood whining and banging on really cold startups, but not anymore with 5w30 oil. Shifting would be stiff too, but synthetic gear lube would pretty much fix that as well.
We've ha 20s/30s more than usual this year, and my Scion tC loves it.
It gets warm in a matter of minutes, and runs smoothly - even the auto transmission runs well.
Last year I had it in the mountains in the teens, and it was fine too.
It gets warm in a matter of minutes, and runs smoothly - even the auto transmission runs well.
Last year I had it in the mountains in the teens, and it was fine too.
The engine seemed a little noisier this morning (26 deg F) at first in my 07 Odyssey, but it warmed up nicely.And that is a relative statement because that 3.5L V6 is darned quiet. No other issues. I'll keep my ears open tomorrow a.m. when going to work to see if I hear any unusual sounds. It'll be fairly chilly with the temp near 15 deg. F. The seat heaters are awesome!
My Accord is doing well even at 0 or so. But my Bridgestone Turanza LS-V's are not. They are very rough for 5 miles or so before they smooth out.
Bror;
Interestingly, I've noticed that my 06 Civic has to crank quite a bit to start when it is cold...however, it seems to be cranking fast enough, so I think the battery is good. I think it just isn't delivering a rich enough fuel mixture. I'm going to try pressing the pedal 1/2 way tommorrow morning and see what we get.
'98 F-150 4.6L 5spd
Runs quite well in the cold. We've only seen it get about as cold as 20F or so this year, but I can't imagine it would be much different with colder weather.
Only things I've noticed is an exhaust leak from the left side manifold (these engines are notorious for the bolts backing out) and of course, the trans in hard to shift for the first couple miles. Once it warms up, the exhaust leak goes away, and it shifts smooth as silk.
Once it warms up in a couple months here, I'll get in there and tighten up the bolts on the manifold. Probably before then, I'll be changing the transmission fluid out for synthetic, so hopefully that will help with the hard shifting in the morning.
Runs quite well in the cold. We've only seen it get about as cold as 20F or so this year, but I can't imagine it would be much different with colder weather.
Only things I've noticed is an exhaust leak from the left side manifold (these engines are notorious for the bolts backing out) and of course, the trans in hard to shift for the first couple miles. Once it warms up, the exhaust leak goes away, and it shifts smooth as silk.
Once it warms up in a couple months here, I'll get in there and tighten up the bolts on the manifold. Probably before then, I'll be changing the transmission fluid out for synthetic, so hopefully that will help with the hard shifting in the morning.
Matt89, it may be that Honda is trying to start their cars with a leaner mixture than in the past to save on fuel and emissions.
Quote:
Matt89, it may be that Honda is trying to start their cars with a leaner mixture than in the past to save on fuel and emissions.
I don't doubt that one bit. FWIW, I started up in my 30F garage today on the first crank with the pedal halfway down (and yes, I did quickly take my foot off the pedal to avoid going immediately to 5000 rpm in neutral
Like I said though, on startup the engine has always cranked to beat the band, just didn't seem to 'catch'.
JHZR2
Staff member
Recently we got to start our vehicles under 9-13F conditions... nice and cold for our area.
The honda (actually acura integra, but who's counting) jumped up to nearly 2000 RPM, like it does any time its a cold start below approximately freezing temperature. Stayed like this for a while, nothing new.
My truck started and went to about 1200 RPM, same as normal, and my BMW started (with a tiny little half-second rattle), and then idled at about 950 for a few seconds, before going to its normal idle (that car does not seem to have a fast idle mode).
I was really suprised, especially that a car with 180k and a car that is 16 years old would both start so easily in such cold. no roughness or anything. Sure, the MTs could be felt to be a bit stiffer, but even that subsded shortly!
JMH
The honda (actually acura integra, but who's counting) jumped up to nearly 2000 RPM, like it does any time its a cold start below approximately freezing temperature. Stayed like this for a while, nothing new.
My truck started and went to about 1200 RPM, same as normal, and my BMW started (with a tiny little half-second rattle), and then idled at about 950 for a few seconds, before going to its normal idle (that car does not seem to have a fast idle mode).
I was really suprised, especially that a car with 180k and a car that is 16 years old would both start so easily in such cold. no roughness or anything. Sure, the MTs could be felt to be a bit stiffer, but even that subsded shortly!
JMH
We haven't had temps below freezing but once this winter, though it was close this morning. The car cranks briskly, maybe three "churr-churr-churrs", then fires up and idles at 1200 rpm or so for a few moments. By the time I've locked the doors and put on my seat belt, the idle is usually down to about 900-1000. I give it a few more seconds, until idle is about 750, then I put the car in gear and move off.
Here's the odd part. The transmission in the Benz is set up to delay the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts for the first few minutes of a cold drive; the manual says it's to warm up the engine quicker and help with emissions. And the car does that -- but *more* noticeably when the temp outside is over 60, and *less* noticeably when the weather is colder! You'd think it would be the other way around!
Other than that, there are a few little cold creaks from the seats and the like, until the interior warms up.
Here's the odd part. The transmission in the Benz is set up to delay the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts for the first few minutes of a cold drive; the manual says it's to warm up the engine quicker and help with emissions. And the car does that -- but *more* noticeably when the temp outside is over 60, and *less* noticeably when the weather is colder! You'd think it would be the other way around!
Other than that, there are a few little cold creaks from the seats and the like, until the interior warms up.
I've had 5 different E30's with a variety of engines, none of them had the same emissions friendly high rpm cold start that newer cars seem to have. Your car has the M42, right? The rattle should be your chain tensioner filling up with oil again. Those cars are tanks!
Well I'll find out tomorrow. Tonight forecast is for -28C (-33F).
My Mazda sometimes takes a few seconds, but starts Ok. Honda CRV is fairly consistent - 4-5 turns and then suddenly spins to life. Of course, clutch and gear shift are spongy. Not to mentiond the cold seats.
I mixed in some 5W20 and use synthetic 0W30 to help my engines start up and warm up.
My Mazda sometimes takes a few seconds, but starts Ok. Honda CRV is fairly consistent - 4-5 turns and then suddenly spins to life. Of course, clutch and gear shift are spongy. Not to mentiond the cold seats.
I mixed in some 5W20 and use synthetic 0W30 to help my engines start up and warm up.
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