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-15º Cold start - Chicago GP owners

Exile said:
My slight concern is I'm sure the oil is pretty molasses like, for both motor and SC. Is this even a concern? What about the coolant...im uncertain what the temp range is on that stuff.
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Extreme cold does weird things to low grade oils. One reason I run synthetic is to have peace of mind that during winter my engine isn't starting up with goopey semi-solid oil. As far as the coolant, the safe temperature depends on the ratio of pure anti-freeze to water. If you buy pre-mixed 50/50 I'd say you are bordering on unsafe (based only on gut feeling). This is from Wikipedia but when I mixed my dexcool this fall, if I remember correctly, I had to increase the ratio of Dex-cool to achieve the safe temps described below when I tested with my little coolant tester tool:

"A 1:1 dilution with water is usually used, resulting in a freezing point of about −34 °F (−37 °C), depending on the formulation. In warmer or colder areas, weaker or stronger dilutions are used, respectively, but a range of 40%/60% to 60%/40% is frequently specified to ensure corrosion protection, and 70%/30% for maximum freeze prevention down to −84 °F (−64 °C).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antifreeze#Measuring_the_freeze_point
 


I am further north and 50/50 is perfectly fine, at worst, I just plug in the block heater when it's under -35C or so.

I wouldn't be worried if you live somewhere where the usual average temperature of winter is -15C or -20C.
 
car hasnt ran since the freeze, and now the battery is deemed "dead" by the charger. oh well it can sit
 
WolvesSoulZ said:
My car starts even at -40C, even with the XP Cam. Shush. I use 5w-30.
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Because you have a block heater. It better start if you used the heater, because it will be like the engine was just running. 3800's seem to fire up just fine in the cold, the cranking speed is the issue with both of our 3800 cars. Well no issue yet but its slow.
 
Started mine today finally, took like 3 cranks but it went. Drove fine...ran it for 30min before i drove it tho.
 


02NavyBlue said:
Because you have a block heater. It better start if you used the heater, because it will be like the engine was just running. 3800's seem to fire up just fine in the cold, the cranking speed is the issue with both of our 3800 cars. Well no issue yet but its slow.
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Well usually, my old '00 started just fine too in the cold without using the block heater. And to say, at -30C I don't use the block heater and it starts, it's about -30c every other nights so. I just like using it since those 04 have that drive by wire and that it's cammed.
 
Mine started today -20c , held the key for 4-5 seconds and turned slowly, fired up, stalled, cranked it again and fired up soon as I cranked it.
 
Scottydoggs said:
mine was a rather slow turn today too. it seemed like it took a full revolution of the engine before it fired up.
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Exile said:
Started mine today finally, took like 3 cranks but it went. Drove fine...ran it for 30min before i drove it tho.
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nos4blood70 said:
Mine this morning cranked 3 times, made a slow 4th crank and finally fired. I thought it was gonna be a lost cause.
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Grimsin said:
Mine started today -20c , held the key for 4-5 seconds and turned slowly, fired up, stalled, cranked it again and fired up soon as I cranked it.
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Is anyone having the hard starts using a high grade synthetic oil? Just curious if conventional oil could be a major factor in the harder starting.
 


Scottydoggs said:
all i use is cheap on sale conventional oil.
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Same here. Whatever my Meineke throws in there for my $20 oil changes.
Multiple starts yesterday, some a couple hours apart. It started normally, no extra cranks. Started normally today, although its finally above 0º so that helps.
 
I use synthetic and still get slow cranking. The oil probably doesn't make much of a difference in the cranking speed at the temps it gets in my area (-12°F yesterday morning) Just the engine itself and the battery being able to supply only so much current while being that cold. The synthetic will just help lubricate parts a little quicker as it will flow a little faster, but shouldn't effect cranking.
 
the coolant didn't get too bad but it became really slushed up. Like going to 7-11 and getting a slurpee with a little bit more of a liquid state. Interesting to see what the coolant i added looked like in comparison
 


Battery. Even a new and fully charged battery losses a big % of its power when temps drop below 0*F. I cant find the chart I had, but it seems like it said a 40% loss or so.
 
You are asking for trouble if your coolant is slushy. Drain about 1 gal and pour in some fresh stuff. $10 and your good.
 
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