Doesn't mean much to my car, but it means that I might have to scrape and that I start having to watch out for ice when I'm driving.
Rain around 0C can be a real terror show...
Rain around 0C can be a real terror show...
Question - what does 0C (32F) mean to automobiles
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No particular significance to cars. It's just one point on the continuum between very hot and very cold.
Some people like to overwork the phrase "below freezing," without apparent reason. Sometimes I wonder whether they're referring to the freezing point of mercury, water, aluminum, or what.
A temperature a few degrees above the freezing point of water is significant in determining whether there will be frost on the windshield, or only dew.
Some people like to overwork the phrase "below freezing," without apparent reason. Sometimes I wonder whether they're referring to the freezing point of mercury, water, aluminum, or what.
A temperature a few degrees above the freezing point of water is significant in determining whether there will be frost on the windshield, or only dew.
0C is the bottom of the temp range here, we get a few days at -1, -2 or -3, but zero is common in winter...in the early morning, by 10.00am it will be in double figures. Commuting by motorcycle, it means seriously cold and some effort needs to be taken to combat the cold.
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Slippery/icy driving conditions?
Good point but even that isn't at a single (air) temperature. My BMW alarms at +3C (+37F). Temperatures can vary several degrees over even short distances (top and bottom of a hill) and the ground can be colder or warmer than the air, so you've got to watch out all around freezing, meaning starting from +3C.
Roads can be warmed by sunshine too so at a few degrees below 0C (air temp) the road surface can be at freezing and very slippery. This is especially true if it's sunny and there is a cross wind blowing snow across pavement - it sticks and freezes - just another recipe for black ice.
I remember driving on a beautiful sunny winter day a couple of years ago when the half ton a quarter mile behind me started to gently rotate to the left and then gently to the right. When I looked closely the road between us looked shiny - but had looked normal as you looked forward. Time to slow down! Half tons often provide a good warning of slippery conditions.
Slippery/icy driving conditions?
Good point but even that isn't at a single (air) temperature. My BMW alarms at +3C (+37F). Temperatures can vary several degrees over even short distances (top and bottom of a hill) and the ground can be colder or warmer than the air, so you've got to watch out all around freezing, meaning starting from +3C.
Roads can be warmed by sunshine too so at a few degrees below 0C (air temp) the road surface can be at freezing and very slippery. This is especially true if it's sunny and there is a cross wind blowing snow across pavement - it sticks and freezes - just another recipe for black ice.
I remember driving on a beautiful sunny winter day a couple of years ago when the half ton a quarter mile behind me started to gently rotate to the left and then gently to the right. When I looked closely the road between us looked shiny - but had looked normal as you looked forward. Time to slow down! Half tons often provide a good warning of slippery conditions.
My Volvo goes into traction control at 3C, whether it's on or not.
Oddly, I get way worse MPG at 10'F than I do at 20'F. No other minor temp change has this drastic an effect. And I run for 35 minutes if I start the car... T-stat works, etc.
I also prefer not wrenching on cars below 15'F, as IMO the metal fasteners get brittle. If it's something plastic I prefer above freezing.
I also prefer not wrenching on cars below 15'F, as IMO the metal fasteners get brittle. If it's something plastic I prefer above freezing.
Originally Posted By: Silk
0C is the bottom of the temp range here, we get a few days at -1, -2 or -3, but zero is common in winter...in the early morning, by 10.00am it will be in double figures. Commuting by motorcycle, it means seriously cold and some effort needs to be taken to combat the cold.
Yep, we get those same winter temps. It's seriously uncomfortable on the bike at highway speeds! Zero Celsius doesn't change anything with cars though, all it means is the difference between having to hose the frost off or not if the car sat outside overnight. My Outlander flashes up a warning whenever it's 3 degrees or less.
0C is the bottom of the temp range here, we get a few days at -1, -2 or -3, but zero is common in winter...in the early morning, by 10.00am it will be in double figures. Commuting by motorcycle, it means seriously cold and some effort needs to be taken to combat the cold.
Yep, we get those same winter temps. It's seriously uncomfortable on the bike at highway speeds! Zero Celsius doesn't change anything with cars though, all it means is the difference between having to hose the frost off or not if the car sat outside overnight. My Outlander flashes up a warning whenever it's 3 degrees or less.
Never had a problem with engines in those temps, although in carb days one needed to have a hand for the steering wheel, another for the gearlever, and another for the choke. Gearshifts in manuals could be slow for a few hundred metres. When we lived on the island, the only auto in the rental car fleet was a MkII Escort - it couldn't get up my drive on a frosty morning. I'd take one of the rental motorcycles or my pushbike home rather than that !
32f feels like spring now up here, car loves it. Below 0f seems to be when you start getting complaints about noises and rattles that were not there before.
It's a nice reference point. IMO 0C and up, no real difference, well perhaps at 0C if you ran straight weight the battery might mind.
Was rather nice to do an oil change yesterday. Frozen ground but all the snow had washed away. Could put the floor jack under a corner and not have it sink into the ground. Could also lie on the ground and not get dirty. Could get used to this. But I did like frequent breaks to warm up the fingers.
Was rather nice to do an oil change yesterday. Frozen ground but all the snow had washed away. Could put the floor jack under a corner and not have it sink into the ground. Could also lie on the ground and not get dirty. Could get used to this. But I did like frequent breaks to warm up the fingers.
32F means I don't wince and mutter as much when I see people (walking the dog in the morning) idling their vehicles, as I do at 60F.
Originally Posted By: BobsArmory
It means that if you wash your car on the way home from work at the car wash you might not be able to open your doors in the morning.
^^^ I think we have a winner, unless you are running all water in your cooling system.
It means that if you wash your car on the way home from work at the car wash you might not be able to open your doors in the morning.
^^^ I think we have a winner, unless you are running all water in your cooling system.
Originally Posted By: CR94
No particular significance to cars. It's just one point on the continuum between very hot and very cold.
Some people like to overwork the phrase "below freezing," without apparent reason. Sometimes I wonder whether they're referring to the freezing point of mercury, water, aluminum, or what.
You get my point...
"Oils are different below freezing"...well they thicken, but they do above freezing as well. Their cold temperature performance issues are WELL below freezing.
"Think about the rubber and polymers below freezing"...again, the problem ranges are miles below freezing
No particular significance to cars. It's just one point on the continuum between very hot and very cold.
Some people like to overwork the phrase "below freezing," without apparent reason. Sometimes I wonder whether they're referring to the freezing point of mercury, water, aluminum, or what.
You get my point...
"Oils are different below freezing"...well they thicken, but they do above freezing as well. Their cold temperature performance issues are WELL below freezing.
"Think about the rubber and polymers below freezing"...again, the problem ranges are miles below freezing
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