OK, this is a reprint of my post from Jan 16, 2009
Note how many things did not want to work at -40, real air temp, not chill factor. Clutch pedal frozen, gas peddle stuck down (warm up resulted!) power steering left me cross wise in the street with no steering, etc.
Here goes:THURSDAY MORNING: Official record set (for the date) -29F.
1994 Escort, (commuter car) 240k miles, Mobil 1 0W20 motor oil.
Car sitting in driveway, cranked effortlessly and started easily.
Digital thermometers at my house read -31, NW side of town.
FRIDAY MORNING: OK, I live in a hollow that gets VERY cold on still nights. Sometimes frosts at night in September when the City is above 40 degrees. ANYWAY:
Digital thermometers (calibrated at Rockwell International, enviromental labs) read -40.7F at 6 am. Yes, I took a picture!
Escort in driveway: Key does not turn. Several attempts and force make it happen. Clutch pedal is frozen. It cracks and breaks loose, then works ok. Motor cranks slowly, pops, stalls.
Recrank, sputters, starts, howls, growls, squeals, screeches but runs.
Then: back up into the street, cannot steer to straighten out.
Power steering seems stuck in glue but eventually I get it turned. Step on gas, pedal is stuck. Then, it breaks loose, now I am going 30 mph, 5,000 rpm in low gear, pedal will not return. So much for "drive easy till it warms up"
After two blocks it returns to idle, then works normally.
Arrive at Rockwell, Wow, not many cars here, I can park close to the gate. But, the gate will not open!!!
All in all, just another day in paradise.
(And, the ski areas have lots of snow)
fsskier