Did it start?

I think what's helping everyone today (in today's automotive world) is the very thin oil that most newer cars take. Even my '02 Camry calls for 5w30. Better than 10WXX, I suppose, in this weather.

-15, Detroit Metro 1990 Rx7 parked outside, not driven for 2 days and the small/light 12V lawnmower battery was sufficient to get it running. Getting the door open took longer

2 here in Knoxville this morning. Record low. 2002 Jeep TJ which is always parked outside. Started first try. Granted it took awhile to warm up... But she started.

5 degrees this morning

09 accent started no problem as expected.

I bet I would not be able to get the 86 F150 started though. Its sometimes hesitant to start cold when its not 5 degrees out.

It was -35*C here the other day. The 2002 cavalier w/ 280,000kms on it and the 1993 GMC K1500 with 310,000kms on it both started without being plugged in. I was lucky though, it took a lot of cranking and both nearly didn't.

This has been the worst winter in close to 5 years. Continuously cold and constant snow.

Hell, I didn't start well this morning. I didn't even try to drive my car.

wearymicrobe wrote:

Keith Tanner wrote: Here's what I have to say to San Diego: I have a 1972 MGB with an LS1, a 1994 Miata with an LS3 and a 1990 Miata with an FM II turbo. I'm thinking the 1966 Cadillac needs an LS2. You can't do any of this. The 1985 Vanagon with the Subaru motor, however, would be legal in the Smog State.

72 MGB is out of smog so totally cool, so is the caddy. LS3 ecotech package makes the Miata legal. But; and its a big, round, full bodied butt. We are to poor paying for our stupid failing state and insane costs of living to build anything cool.

I'll grant you the MG, I didn't know if it was old enough, and I thought the newer engine meant it had to be smogged. LS3 E-Rod headers won't even come close to fitting in a Miata, so that's not an option. Turbo Miata is still legal :) so, you get two of the four, simply because they old.

How about the 1977 Mini with the hot engine? Old enough?

SWMBO's e34 525i started with no drama at all, my '13 Chevy work van started, but the starter gear took its good old time to retract. Hopefully it doesn't do that again tomorrow.

Oh, and I spotted a GTR on the road this morning

-10 2005 avalanche cranked a tiny bit slow but fired right up. had some frozen slush up on the trans by the shift arm, so it was not easy to put into gear. tried to kick the road goo off behind the front tires with my steel toes and it about broke my foot, and didn't come off. i drove around with my tires rubbing on turns.

Keith Tanner wrote: You guys know that those temperatures are not OMG THE WORLD IS ENDING temperatures for the whole world, right? Cars are designed to run in those temps, and modern engine management is tuned to deal with it.

Yeah, but they use metric degrees which are warmer. Plus they are usually smart enough to have block heaters and/or heated garages.

My story - -12f, '86 VW 2.2l, cranked very slowly, took a long 5 seconds before anything useful happened, and then it ran/cranked on one cylinder for maybe 10 hits while I had my foot to the floor to keep it from flooding. Died if you let off throttle. Shifter just about immobile, no power brakes, and the power steering pump sounded like a Paxton and provided negative assist.

Also, the driver's window regulator is frozen stiff so had to drive in with the passenger window open and one hand over my mouth to direct breath to the right side of the car. Never built heat in entire 25 minute drive to work.

93 Volvo started right up in my semi-heated garage and was warm within 5 minutes.

Starting after parked at work all day is another story but it did fire up.

My favorite weather quote, and why I moved from NE Pa, to Portland, Oregon.......

"When you say 20 degrees... its given that it is ABOVE zero!"

I believe it was winter 97... the thermometer showed -27... I sat in my AE86... the foam of the seat had frozen, the car didn't start. Then in 2005 there was 2 ice storms in 4 days, and we were without power for 10 days... thank god for coal heat... and a 4000 watt generator..

Nope... I don't regret leaving the east coast... I'm thankful every winter......

Oh.... it was about 38 here... and I have no problems starting any of my cars...

I have a fun story. This was in my 84 truck. It was something like -25 real degrees outside, no idea about wind chill. It started, eventually, and it sounded TERRIBLE. I put it in gear, and about ten seconds later it went in. I started driving down the road and there was a wheelspeed squeal that was huge loud. The speedometer kept going. I was just idling down the road at 10 mph and the speedo went all the way around like 4-5 times before it stopped, I was going like 350 mph. It was a weird ride.

Sunday it was -32C or so. XC90 started up fine. I really should get a block heater for it some day, I guess.

2003 BMW 325i with 100k miles. 3 degrees and it started just like any other day. The shifter was a little balkier than usual (Redline MTL). The battery might be original for all I know. I sure haven't replaced it in 8 years of owning the car.

Only oddity was after I got to work. I am used to it running a little cool because the stat is going and BMWs fail safe. Got to work and parked for half an hour, then drove about 10 minutes. Looked down and the gauge is pegged in the red, though the warning light is off. Turned the car off and pulled over. Popped the hood and all is cool in there. Guess the sensor or gauge had a freakout.

The ol' turdcord took some time to turn over, but it started eventually, probably about 15-20 seconds of cranking. -15deg this morning when I left for work.

-25 last night. 87 4Runner did-not-start. Tried to bump start it down our steep driveway. No go. It rolled at less than 2 mph. WTF? It took a jump from my cousin to fire it up. The battery is less than a year old.

ZX2 Started fine, although the shifter was stiff and one of the pulley bearings made a screach.

1 for 2 here. Truck started right up, Taurus would not. Both live in a (non-heated but attached) garage. Tom is not happy because the Taurus has a less-than-2-year-old Autozone Gold battery.

Keith Tanner wrote:

wearymicrobe wrote:

Keith Tanner wrote: Here's what I have to say to San Diego: I have a 1972 MGB with an LS1, a 1994 Miata with an LS3 and a 1990 Miata with an FM II turbo. I'm thinking the 1966 Cadillac needs an LS2. You can't do any of this. The 1985 Vanagon with the Subaru motor, however, would be legal in the Smog State.

72 MGB is out of smog so totally cool, so is the caddy. LS3 ecotech package makes the Miata legal. But; and its a big, round, full bodied butt. We are to poor paying for our stupid failing state and insane costs of living to build anything cool.

I'll grant you the MG, I didn't know if it was old enough, and I thought the newer engine meant it had to be smogged. LS3 E-Rod headers won't even come close to fitting in a Miata, so that's not an option. Turbo Miata is still legal :) so, you get two of the four, simply because they old. How about the 1977 Mini with the hot engine? Old enough?

75 and older they won't ever check so unless you make someone really mad you can do whatever you want. 66 and older no one can say anything at all. 76+ either has to have the original engine, same year or newer engine with all the emissions equipment that goes with it (by the year of the block)or carb certified parts for the car the engine came from. Its more complicated than that but in general that's how it works.

While my little truck did eventually start, the shifting was stiff and balky and it stalled at the first two lights even after warming up for 15 minutes before heading out. It never did get warm enough for the CD player to work! Stupid single digits.

Put the Durango in the garage Saturday. Cleaned path to garage Sunday. Path was drifted back over and then bigger drift buried the side door. Don't have to go anywhere or do anything, so I'm not touching it,

Don't even want to try to start it. Won't be surprised if the anti-freeze turned to slush.

06 GMC sat outside for the last 4 days (high/low: sat 34/0, sun 0/-14, Monday -18/-14 today 4/-14). Fired up and ran for about 30 minutes before shutting it off. Cant go anywhere but up and down my driveway! Both cars (08 Rio, 10 Forte) been in the garage (thermometer showed 10) and fired up just fine. Wife had to clean frozen exploded soda.

Hopefully County highway will get down my road and they will lift the travel restrictions (do not travel unless emergency or face a ticket). We've been in the house since Sat.

Dakota started up like it was 50 out.

-10 at 6 a.m., remote start '12 Sierra from house, engine @ 180°, cab warming, go.

After work, 3 p.m., out of fob range, OnStar remote start from Droid. Bingo.

I love this E36 M3.