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Coldest temperature you have started your car in? - Page 2

post #16 of 35
1/29/10 at 6:48am
Probably something like -35C, but the temperature doesn't get that low too often around here. It's only -15 right now
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post #17 of 35
1/29/10 at 8:36am
Around -40°C.
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post #18 of 35
1/29/10 at 4:01pm
2008 Focus. I live in northern Arizona so the coldest Ive started my car was probably around 15 or 20 degrees Fahrenheit. It makes me cringe every time I start my car in cold weather. I HATE cold starts. But sounds like many have it worse off than me.

I like warm ups during the summer
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post #19 of 35
1/29/10 at 4:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by EYEdROP View Post
2008 Focus. I live in northern Arizona so the coldest Ive started my car was probably around 15 or 20 degrees Fahrenheit. It makes me cringe every time I start my car in cold weather. I HATE cold starts. But sounds like many have it worse off than me.

I like warm ups during the summer
15-20° is nothing to worry about! If it was a problem my van wouldn't start all winter long
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post #20 of 35
1/29/10 at 4:30pm
Mercedes E430, -36 C, no block heater. It sounded terrible when started.
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post #21 of 35
1/29/10 at 4:32pm
And we consider -25 C or warmer as ordinary starting conditions here.
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post #22 of 35
1/29/10 at 4:49pm
-36C?!?! I'd stay home under the covers with Yogi and BooBoo until the spring came!!! Here in Seattle it's big news when the winter temperature drops below 40F..... that's +40F! I've started my motorcycle in the rain way too many times than I'd care to recall....does that count? I hate cars, and I hate the cold! I guess somebody's gotta' do it! My hat's off to you folks...that's all right, you can keep yours on!
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post #23 of 35
1/29/10 at 4:57pm
'88 Chevy Sprint, -15 to -20 degrees F for nearly two weeks in Minnesota. We only had a car port, so I bundled up the engine and battery in a wool blanket and plugged in the block heater each night when I got back from evening classes.
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post #24 of 35
1/29/10 at 5:06pm
1982 Subaru Wagon at -22F in Colorado...no block heater but fresh antifreeze and battery. It took a couple slow turns and then started up. I remember the vinyl seats making cracking noises. It was truly colder than a well digger's ass.
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post #25 of 35
1/29/10 at 6:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ecclesand View Post
1982 Subaru Wagon at -22F in Colorado...no block heater but fresh antifreeze and battery. It took a couple slow turns and then started up. I remember the vinyl seats making cracking noises. It was truly colder than a well digger's ass.
Those 80s Subarus were great. I had an 83 sedan that I took on a 3 month winter trip. I know I started it at -15F (-26C) when camping in Arches National Park. It was even colder in Yosemite, but there wasn't a thermometer in the camp ground so I'm not sure how cold it was.

Before that trip, I never imagined I could zip myself up in a mummy bag.
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post #26 of 35
1/29/10 at 6:37pm
I've started as low as -42C left overnight without block heater. It's usually plugged in when it gets to -25C but couldn't this yime.
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post #27 of 35
1/30/10 at 7:32am


Went out to grab a pizza earlier; it was a little chilly.
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post #28 of 35
1/30/10 at 4:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Foshizzle View Post
Inspired by the "How to properly warm up a vehicle" and "The outside temperature"-threads and the fact that we've had a long cold spell here in Finland for over a month I thought I'd check how well your cars are starting in the cold.

My -96 VW Golf started yesterday in -25c (-13F) without the block heater plugged in. I think my previous -87 VW Polo started in similar temperatures without block heater, I'm sure it started in -20c (-4F) atleast.

I don't have free parking close to my apartment so I have my car parked about 150m away on the side of the street so even if I have a block heater there is no electrical outlet for me to use so I can't use it half of the time, poor car.
Check your battery 1st. I am a mechanic.
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post #29 of 35
1/30/10 at 5:00pm
About 8 degrees Fahrenheit when I lived in Tennessee and owned a 1984 Nissan P/U Truck. Currently in South Florida about 38 degrees Fahrenheit a couple of weeks ago.
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post #30 of 35
1/30/10 at 5:15pm
At least 60f below zero my first winter in Alaska (thermometer was pegged there for a month); but not without a block heater, this was a cast iron V8.

OP: If you want any longevity for your engine, you need to switch to synthetic oil in your crankcase if you haven't yet
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