Best guess is somewhere between -25F and -30F. Sitting outside, no battery warmer/tender. The Sonata was not happy but it did start.
Lowest Winter Temp You've Started a Vehicle?
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Originally Posted By: Tim_S
-41F in Alaska December 1975. Had an old Dodge Van with a 318 v8 and 3-speed manual, and 10W-40 QS dino in the sump. Cranked very slowly and eventually fired. Sounded horrible for the first 30 seconds or so. Drove from south of Anchorage to Fairbanks that day, where the temp was -69F (still air temp). Changed the oil that night in a heated garage to what was commonly used then in the interior; 5w-20 QS dino that had a warning on the can "NOT for extended highway driving". No plug-in's were available then around Anchorage, but were commonly used in Fairbanks. Changed the manual trans and rear diff oil to a 75w then as well. 75w, thats all. Thinnest stuff available back then up there.
I was hoping someone else would chime in with a similar situation. I cautiously figured my contention of starting at -72F would be considered poppy cock by many along with the many contention of frequent below -50F situations.
Yep, we did have plenty of plug ins around the Fairbanks area.
-41F in Alaska December 1975. Had an old Dodge Van with a 318 v8 and 3-speed manual, and 10W-40 QS dino in the sump. Cranked very slowly and eventually fired. Sounded horrible for the first 30 seconds or so. Drove from south of Anchorage to Fairbanks that day, where the temp was -69F (still air temp). Changed the oil that night in a heated garage to what was commonly used then in the interior; 5w-20 QS dino that had a warning on the can "NOT for extended highway driving". No plug-in's were available then around Anchorage, but were commonly used in Fairbanks. Changed the manual trans and rear diff oil to a 75w then as well. 75w, thats all. Thinnest stuff available back then up there.
I was hoping someone else would chime in with a similar situation. I cautiously figured my contention of starting at -72F would be considered poppy cock by many along with the many contention of frequent below -50F situations.
Yep, we did have plenty of plug ins around the Fairbanks area.
I started my Equinox with 15w40 this morning at -20. It wasn't happy but it started right up.
For "TiredTrucker"
Sure did see a lot of those (-50 or worse) mornings in and around the Fairbanks area. Was in the Army and stationed @ Ft. Wainwright then. Interesting observation was when it got down to -60 or lower, even when a gas vehicle or generator was started in a heated garage, frequently it would stall when taken outside if the engine wasn't warmed up enough. The gas would not remain in suspension after the carburetor in the frigid air. Gas just pooled in the manifold. No fuel injection then. Even the diesel deuce and a halfs we had, which were started in a heated motor pool building, ran fine, but once outside, after being driven for a while, the manual steering gear would become too stiff to even turn the steering wheel. Usually had to be towed back by a 5-ton which had power steering.
Dealing with the extreme cold up north in either Alaska or Canada is still no picnic, but at least the abundance of quality synthetic lubes today ought to make winter maintenance much less of a nightmare.
Sure did see a lot of those (-50 or worse) mornings in and around the Fairbanks area. Was in the Army and stationed @ Ft. Wainwright then. Interesting observation was when it got down to -60 or lower, even when a gas vehicle or generator was started in a heated garage, frequently it would stall when taken outside if the engine wasn't warmed up enough. The gas would not remain in suspension after the carburetor in the frigid air. Gas just pooled in the manifold. No fuel injection then. Even the diesel deuce and a halfs we had, which were started in a heated motor pool building, ran fine, but once outside, after being driven for a while, the manual steering gear would become too stiff to even turn the steering wheel. Usually had to be towed back by a 5-ton which had power steering.
Dealing with the extreme cold up north in either Alaska or Canada is still no picnic, but at least the abundance of quality synthetic lubes today ought to make winter maintenance much less of a nightmare.
2°F? LOL 2? I think it happens about 100 times a winter here. This Sunday we are looking at minus 19°F. I'm thinking of going out and trying just to see if the old car will still start. I'm betting it will. BTW I started using 0-20 Synthetic in the winter and I believe I can tell it's better by the way the car cranks over.
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40 some below in the parking lot of Craig Generating Station located south of Craig,Co about Feb of 2003.Honda Accord engine heater pluged into 240V and Modil I in crankcase and that engine still cranked slow but did start. Radiator completely blocked off and heater/defroster was barely putting out warm air twelve miles down the road.Coldest natured vehicle I have ever owned.
You have had a senior moment here hosteen. It wasn't 2003. You missed it by eighteen years ese. It was 1985. 2003, 1985, 41, 97. who gives a bra? BAH HUMBUG +2.
Coldest unassisted start was -40 something with a 2007 Chevy 6.0. Was working At a camp In northern Alberta. Plugged the truck in at night, when I came out in the morning my extension cord was gone. Only reason I don't know the exact temp is because after -40 the mirror only showed ---. Soon as the heat started coming 5 cracks went screaming across my windshield.
But average winter there's usually a few -30 to -40 starts
But average winter there's usually a few -30 to -40 starts
-17f with 10w40 in the Borman6 . -25f in the Willys with 10w30
It's been a long time ago, but I started my 1974 Chevy C-10 on a West Virginia morning at -16F. I had to babysit it for a few minutes because it was straining and stumbling, but after 5-10 minutes it was ready to drive.
It's a 2-way tie for me @ -38 C, both here in Winnipeg.
November '78 - When I'd moved out here from B.C. in September, my '68 Impala didn't even have a block heater. I had one installed, but consistently forgot to plug it in.
That winter turned out to feature record-breaking cold. I went out c. 0830 to drive to school for a 9 o'clock class. Got in, and the tired old 307 barely cranked - the VOO-VOO-VOO at maybe 300 RPM that a happy small block makes became WOWWW-WOWWW-WOWWW at maybe 100 RPM. The Quaker State 10w30 dino was probably like tar in the sump.
Anyway, she started after maybe three or four 10-second cycles of cranking. The engine rattled like it was bone-dry for maybe 10 seconds. The oil light seemed to take forever to go off.
C. December '87 - My friend phoned with an SOS - she had to sub teach the next day at a suburban school with non-existent bus service. I don't drive to work, and my '79 Mazda GLC Sport had been sitting in my detached unheated garage for days. The saving grace was synthetic oil and a manual choke. The little 1.4 started immediately. (I was unable to get my friend's Honda Civic going though, but lent her my car for next day.)
November '78 - When I'd moved out here from B.C. in September, my '68 Impala didn't even have a block heater. I had one installed, but consistently forgot to plug it in.
That winter turned out to feature record-breaking cold. I went out c. 0830 to drive to school for a 9 o'clock class. Got in, and the tired old 307 barely cranked - the VOO-VOO-VOO at maybe 300 RPM that a happy small block makes became WOWWW-WOWWW-WOWWW at maybe 100 RPM. The Quaker State 10w30 dino was probably like tar in the sump.
Anyway, she started after maybe three or four 10-second cycles of cranking. The engine rattled like it was bone-dry for maybe 10 seconds. The oil light seemed to take forever to go off.
C. December '87 - My friend phoned with an SOS - she had to sub teach the next day at a suburban school with non-existent bus service. I don't drive to work, and my '79 Mazda GLC Sport had been sitting in my detached unheated garage for days. The saving grace was synthetic oil and a manual choke. The little 1.4 started immediately. (I was unable to get my friend's Honda Civic going though, but lent her my car for next day.)
edyvw
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Well as I mentioned, I started vehicle once In Bosnia on -42c. However, last night in Colorado Springs in part of town where I was at some party was -33c. By far the coldest night in Co. Springs I have every witnessed in the Front Range.
-42F a few years back. Was -37F last night with -59 wind chill and the old ford cracked right off this morning
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Should add - 5w40 in the sump
-22F at apt complex, Southcentral PA., in 1994. 89 Nissan Sentra, on M1. No other cars there would start. I assume they were all on conventional.
Curious if everybody's heater was sufficient to keep the cabin warm.
I HATE driving with a jacket on so I'm sort of resigned to shivering for the first few minutes of my commute. But sub-zero temps are pretty rare in Southern New England so a sweatshirt will usually keep me from going hypothermic before the heat kicks in.
I HATE driving with a jacket on so I'm sort of resigned to shivering for the first few minutes of my commute. But sub-zero temps are pretty rare in Southern New England so a sweatshirt will usually keep me from going hypothermic before the heat kicks in.
edyvw
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Originally Posted By: Brent_G
Should add - 5w40 in the sump
So? I started car with 10W40 on -42c.
It depends what is pour point of that oil, and since it is 5W, most likely is below -40.
On top of that it depends what is actual temperature of oil? Usually oil will be bit warmer then surrounding air.
Should add - 5w40 in the sump
So? I started car with 10W40 on -42c.
It depends what is pour point of that oil, and since it is 5W, most likely is below -40.
On top of that it depends what is actual temperature of oil? Usually oil will be bit warmer then surrounding air.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
Originally Posted By: AlienBug
Curious if everybody's heater was sufficient to keep the cabin warm.
I HATE driving with a jacket on so I'm sort of resigned to shivering for the first few minutes of my commute. But sub-zero temps are pretty rare in Southern New England so a sweatshirt will usually keep me from going hypothermic before the heat kicks in.
I always start driving with temp. gauge on cold in order to prevent coolant circulation and additional cooling thru secondary radiator. That accelerates warming up. In 2-3 minutes I turn on heat.
So I did test once at temperature around 35 degrees. Once I started car by keeping temperature gauge at cold and drove normally. In 4 minutes temperature was at 50c (I can monitor parameters using phone thru Carly for BMW OBD reader). Next day was pretty much same temp. Car spent same amount of time in garage. Started car, turned heat all the way up, vent setting to 3. It took car 13 minutes to reach 50c.
Curious if everybody's heater was sufficient to keep the cabin warm.
I HATE driving with a jacket on so I'm sort of resigned to shivering for the first few minutes of my commute. But sub-zero temps are pretty rare in Southern New England so a sweatshirt will usually keep me from going hypothermic before the heat kicks in.
I always start driving with temp. gauge on cold in order to prevent coolant circulation and additional cooling thru secondary radiator. That accelerates warming up. In 2-3 minutes I turn on heat.
So I did test once at temperature around 35 degrees. Once I started car by keeping temperature gauge at cold and drove normally. In 4 minutes temperature was at 50c (I can monitor parameters using phone thru Carly for BMW OBD reader). Next day was pretty much same temp. Car spent same amount of time in garage. Started car, turned heat all the way up, vent setting to 3. It took car 13 minutes to reach 50c.
Originally Posted By: AlienBug
Curious if everybody's heater was sufficient to keep the cabin warm.
Most cars I've had did have very good heaters in even the coldest conditions. The LTD was getting problematic in its old age, the Audi 200 Turbo was quite acceptable, but the Town Car, F-150, and G37 all had/have exceptional heaters, in that even on the coldest days, I cannot leave the heat on "full blast," and I like the heat.
Curious if everybody's heater was sufficient to keep the cabin warm.
Most cars I've had did have very good heaters in even the coldest conditions. The LTD was getting problematic in its old age, the Audi 200 Turbo was quite acceptable, but the Town Car, F-150, and G37 all had/have exceptional heaters, in that even on the coldest days, I cannot leave the heat on "full blast," and I like the heat.
Originally Posted By: AlienBug
Curious if everybody's heater was sufficient to keep the cabin warm.
I HATE driving with a jacket on so I'm sort of resigned to shivering for the first few minutes of my commute. But sub-zero temps are pretty rare in Southern New England so a sweatshirt will usually keep me from going hypothermic before the heat kicks in.
My VW didn't. If the engine got to full temp it'd roast me alive, it was good in that respect. But on a good winter day of say 10F I'd have to drive 10 miles before I had "good" heat. Might be 5 miles before the gauge would even move and I could think of turning on heat. Mind you, that is driving at 50-60mph. On really cold days I don't think I ever got full heat, nor would the thermostat open.
On more than one occasion I'd make the 50 mile drive to work, and as I was slowing down going around the airport I'd watch the temp gauge drop as I coasted!
Curious if everybody's heater was sufficient to keep the cabin warm.
I HATE driving with a jacket on so I'm sort of resigned to shivering for the first few minutes of my commute. But sub-zero temps are pretty rare in Southern New England so a sweatshirt will usually keep me from going hypothermic before the heat kicks in.
My VW didn't. If the engine got to full temp it'd roast me alive, it was good in that respect. But on a good winter day of say 10F I'd have to drive 10 miles before I had "good" heat. Might be 5 miles before the gauge would even move and I could think of turning on heat. Mind you, that is driving at 50-60mph. On really cold days I don't think I ever got full heat, nor would the thermostat open.
On more than one occasion I'd make the 50 mile drive to work, and as I was slowing down going around the airport I'd watch the temp gauge drop as I coasted!
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