Cold Unaided Car Starts - How cold have you started your car

Mike Jung · 01-24-2004, 10:55 PM

After reading: Cold Weather Testing (by Ford)

I was just wondering (especially you guys in the 'prairies' Canada):

How cold (air temperature) have you started your car unaided (no block heaters, booster cables, etc...) ?

With what type of motor oil in the engine (& if possible, the border line pumpablity temp rating for that oil) ?

I have started my GA at -30°C/-22°F (in Montreal, Quebec) with GM Goodwrench 'dino' 5W30 motor oil before (during the 1st winter/year I had my GA).

In Toronto, almost -30°C/-22°F with:
(North American) Castrol Syntec 0W30 motor oil with a B.P.T. around -40°C/F;
Mobil 1 5W30 motor oil with a pour point of around -45°C/-49°F (not sure on the borderline pumpablilty temperature rating for that oil).

It is suppose to be -24°C/-11°F tomorrow morning

Jagey · 01-25-2004, 10:25 AM

i've started my 1987 Oldsmobile in minus 32 degrees Celsius (minus 40 something with the windchill) after sitting outside for about 9 hours without being plugged in. I've started the GA after letting it sit through 6 months of winter without plugging it in too.

Blackrider · 01-25-2004, 10:52 AM

-36 at work

IAmCanadian · 01-25-2004, 11:49 AM

-30°C at home in Kelowna BC after sitting for 3 days on the street. Not plugged in. That was my 4cyl 89 mustang. Started right up!

01-25-2004, 12:01 PM

Only thing you have to worry about when starting a cold car is that the oil is really thick and doesn't move well. This means yours parts will be moving without much lubrication until it warms up. So after starting, either let it warm out or drive very easy (ie. not over 2000 RPM) until it warms up a little. Baging on a just started engine could result in you throwing a bearing. That means expensive engine repair work.

Molson · 01-25-2004, 02:16 PM

-38 this morning when I came home. Car stared on AmsOil 5W30.

BUT

My wheel hub(s) were frozen.Drove 3 feet and my VSS Error lights came on (ABS, Trac SVS) And, when I pushed in the clutch, the car stopped like I hit the brakes. hehe

Drove a few hundred feet and everthing was fine.

Mike Jung · 01-21-2005, 08:49 PM

Cold Unaided Car Starts - How cold have you started your car ?

In my GA:
(Early in the fall/winter: Mobil 1 5W30 oil)
(now) German Castrol Syntec 0W30 synthetic motor oil (with a over-sized NAPA Gold [Wix] oil filter)
& a Optima Red Top Battery

-26°C/-13°F air temperature this winter so far this season.

[With both types of oil; but the German Castrol Syntec 0W30 with a cold start rating down to -40°C/F (pour point rating down to -63°C/-81°F before freezing), definately sounded better cold starting at that temperature.]

sc02grandam · 01-21-2005, 10:27 PM

-33 or so ... sounds like a dying cow when you start it up that cold

and that was with normal gm 5w30 oil

carsarecool · 01-22-2005, 01:37 AM

-25 deg. F when it was rediculously cold in the northeast last year, wind chill to -45 with Mobil1 5W30, and -15 the past few weeks or so, M1 0W30

kubiache · 01-22-2005, 04:17 AM

Grand Am = -27° in Marquette, MI.

GTP = Well, it's -10 right now, and I think that's the coldest it's been since I bought it last September...so we'll see.

Typically I just start them and go back in the house for like 10 minutes before even thinking about driving them.

Sleepwalkr · 01-22-2005, 02:47 PM

Wow, mine sounds almost wussy-ish compared to yours....... but the coldest I know I started mine in was -18F and like -26F wind chill. Just regular 5W30 motor oil and it started right up.

Molson · 01-22-2005, 05:59 PM

-32 -37 no problems. Just creaky clutch, struts and again frozen wheel bearings.

rocketfast123 · 01-22-2005, 06:19 PM

mr03SCT · 01-22-2005, 06:35 PM

-26 so far this year with Castrol GT 5w30

Infernall · 01-25-2005, 01:39 PM

-30 C to -37 C

Do struts normally feel so rigid in the winter? Lots of creaking sounds in the cold.

My car is usually 45C before I drive. Only had to cold start once or twice.

MyBlack99GT · 01-25-2005, 07:53 PM

-40 with windchill and Mobil 1 5W-30

Mike Jung · 01-25-2005, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MyBlack99GT

-40 with windchill and Mobil 1 5W-30

But what was the air temperature outside ?

MyBlack99GT · 01-25-2005, 08:52 PM

-29 or 30 I forget which one but i know it was almost cold enough to close school.

02-01-2005, 09:10 PM

my 1996 grand am 2.4L started with mobil 5w30 in Fargo, ND -43F
-53F windchill always starts right up! when I had different brands of batteries it didn't start as good as the factory battery! got the maintenance free heavy duty sealed ac delco.

grandam-wpg · 02-02-2005, 06:18 PM

-48C on the street overnight last year. The only problem was the ABS light came on, but it turned off when I restarted the car after about 30 min of running hehehe.

01-24-2004, 10:55 PM	#1
Mike Jung 400 hp & 410 lb-ft AKA: Mike Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,671 Vehicle: '14 Camaro SS RS coupe	Cold Unaided Car Starts - How cold have you started your car After reading: Cold Weather Testing (by Ford) I was just wondering (especially you guys in the 'prairies' Canada): How cold (air temperature) have you started your car unaided (no block heaters, booster cables, etc...) ? With what type of motor oil in the engine (& if possible, the border line pumpablity temp rating for that oil) ? I have started my GA at -30°C/-22°F (in Montreal, Quebec) with GM Goodwrench 'dino' 5W30 motor oil before (during the 1st winter/year I had my GA). In Toronto, almost -30°C/-22°F with: (North American) Castrol Syntec 0W30 motor oil with a B.P.T. around -40°C/F; Mobil 1 5W30 motor oil with a pour point of around -45°C/-49°F (not sure on the borderline pumpablilty temperature rating for that oil). It is suppose to be -24°C/-11°F tomorrow morning Last edited by Mike Jung; 01-21-2005 at 08:50 PM.

01-25-2004, 10:25 AM	#2
Jagey Red is cool AKA: Jag Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba Age: 37 Posts: 1,919 Vehicle: 2002 Grand Am GT Coupe	i've started my 1987 Oldsmobile in minus 32 degrees Celsius (minus 40 something with the windchill) after sitting outside for about 9 hours without being plugged in. I've started the GA after letting it sit through 6 months of winter without plugging it in too. __________________ 2002 Black GAGT w/ Red Accents Jagey's N-Body registry Manitoba Grand Am Club Thread

01-25-2004, 10:52 AM	#3
Blackrider Ifeast Upon The Weak AKA: Jordie Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Victoria B.C. Age: 36 Posts: 3,048 Vehicle: 06 GTP 6Speed	-36 at work __________________ 60DegreeGTP

01-25-2004, 02:16 PM	#6
Molson Admininadian! AKA: Jim Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Great White Norf Age: 45 Posts: 3,695 Vehicle: Duramax, C10, MKZ	-38 this morning when I came home. Car stared on AmsOil 5W30. BUT My wheel hub(s) were frozen.Drove 3 feet and my VSS Error lights came on (ABS, Trac SVS) And, when I pushed in the clutch, the car stopped like I hit the brakes. hehe Drove a few hundred feet and everthing was fine. __________________ Sig

01-21-2005, 08:49 PM	#7
Mike Jung 400 hp & 410 lb-ft AKA: Mike Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,671 Vehicle: '14 Camaro SS RS coupe	Cold Unaided Car Starts - How cold have you started your car ? In my GA: (Early in the fall/winter: Mobil 1 5W30 oil) (now) German Castrol Syntec 0W30 synthetic motor oil (with a over-sized NAPA Gold [Wix] oil filter) & a Optima Red Top Battery -26°C/-13°F air temperature this winter so far this season. [With both types of oil; but the German Castrol Syntec 0W30 with a cold start rating down to -40°C/F (pour point rating down to -63°C/-81°F before freezing), definately sounded better cold starting at that temperature.] Last edited by Mike Jung; 01-21-2005 at 09:03 PM.

01-25-2004, 11:49 AM	#4
IAmCanadian GAGT - Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: . Posts: 72 Vehicle: .	-30°C at home in Kelowna BC after sitting for 3 days on the street. Not plugged in. That was my 4cyl 89 mustang. Started right up!

01-25-2004, 12:01 PM	#5
Filter Guest Posts: n/a	Only thing you have to worry about when starting a cold car is that the oil is really thick and doesn't move well. This means yours parts will be moving without much lubrication until it warms up. So after starting, either let it warm out or drive very easy (ie. not over 2000 RPM) until it warms up a little. Baging on a just started engine could result in you throwing a bearing. That means expensive engine repair work.

01-21-2005, 10:27 PM	#8
sc02grandam GAGT - Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Edmonton/ Saskatoon, CANADA Age: 41 Posts: 920 Vehicle: 02 GT coupe.. SC	-33 or so ... sounds like a dying cow when you start it up that cold and that was with normal gm 5w30 oil __________________ my car click here to listen to the supercharger and exhaust

01-22-2005, 01:37 AM	#9
carsarecool GAGT - Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Capital Region, NY Age: 35 Posts: 233 Vehicle: 2004 GTO	-25 deg. F when it was rediculously cold in the northeast last year, wind chill to -45 with Mobil1 5W30, and -15 the past few weeks or so, M1 0W30

01-22-2005, 04:17 AM	#10
kubiache Get blown Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Age: 42 Posts: 1,858 Vehicle: 1998 GTP	Grand Am = -27° in Marquette, MI. GTP = Well, it's -10 right now, and I think that's the coldest it's been since I bought it last September...so we'll see. Typically I just start them and go back in the house for like 10 minutes before even thinking about driving them. __________________ Dave Woodward '01 GA SE --- 14.864 @ 92.61mph.....NA '98 GTP - NIC cam / P&P heads / 105# springs / Titanium retainers / INTENSE LW pushrods / CC Lifters / INTENSE TCS-300 / ZZP Poly mounts / RT 3" DP / PEMs / ZZP MPS 3.2, 3.0 / Wizair / 103s / DHP / AFC 2.2 .......still tuning

01-22-2005, 02:47 PM	#11
Sleepwalkr misunderstood AKA: Jason Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Peyton, CO Posts: 1,244 Vehicle: 2000 GT Coupe	Wow, mine sounds almost wussy-ish compared to yours....... but the coldest I know I started mine in was -18F and like -26F wind chill. Just regular 5W30 motor oil and it started right up. __________________

01-22-2005, 05:59 PM	#12
Molson Admininadian! AKA: Jim Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Great White Norf Age: 45 Posts: 3,695 Vehicle: Duramax, C10, MKZ	-32 -37 no problems. Just creaky clutch, struts and again frozen wheel bearings. __________________ Sig

01-22-2005, 06:35 PM	#14
mr03SCT GAGT - Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 269 Vehicle: 2003 Grandam SCT	-26 so far this year with Castrol GT 5w30

01-25-2005, 01:39 PM	#15
Infernall GASE - Speeder AKA: Wess Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Windsor, Ontatio Age: 39 Posts: 100 Vehicle: 2001 Grand Am SE2	-30 C to -37 C Do struts normally feel so rigid in the winter? Lots of creaking sounds in the cold. My car is usually 45C before I drive. Only had to cold start once or twice.

01-25-2005, 07:53 PM	#16
MyBlack99GT Sh*t'll buff out AKA: Jason Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Appleton,WI Age: 33 Posts: 31 Vehicle: 1999 Grand AM GT Sedan	-40 with windchill and Mobil 1 5W-30 __________________ Mods: SLP exhaust ,K&N, Bosch wires,RapidFire plugs,Alpine deck, Polk Speakers. QUOTE=magyver]lets discuss why your postin on a GA website? and lets discuss how we dont care about your opinion, if we wanted any lip from you, we'd pull down your pants![/quote]

01-25-2005, 08:52 PM	#18
MyBlack99GT Sh*t'll buff out AKA: Jason Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Appleton,WI Age: 33 Posts: 31 Vehicle: 1999 Grand AM GT Sedan	-29 or 30 I forget which one but i know it was almost cold enough to close school. __________________ Mods: SLP exhaust ,K&N, Bosch wires,RapidFire plugs,Alpine deck, Polk Speakers. QUOTE=magyver]lets discuss why your postin on a GA website? and lets discuss how we dont care about your opinion, if we wanted any lip from you, we'd pull down your pants![/quote]

02-01-2005, 09:10 PM	#19
96gase Guest Posts: n/a	my 1996 grand am 2.4L started with mobil 5w30 in Fargo, ND -43F -53F windchill always starts right up! when I had different brands of batteries it didn't start as good as the factory battery! got the maintenance free heavy duty sealed ac delco.

02-02-2005, 06:18 PM	#20
grandam-wpg GAGT - Member AKA: Chuck Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Winnipeg, Canada Age: 42 Posts: 51 Vehicle: 06 Civic	-48C on the street overnight last year. The only problem was the ABS light came on, but it turned off when I restarted the car after about 30 min of running hehehe.

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