Rurrrr...rurrrrr.....rurrrrrr...vrooooooom

[z28luvr01]

That's what my car sounded like when it started this morning. Here's why:

[Intrepidation]

Pshh, it's -2 here.

[loki]

it's very chilly for here, 7 this morning.

[Satty]

I haven't even bothered to try to start my car today.

[NOS2006]

Is that a Cobalt, Frank?

[Camino LS6]

Try starting a diesel in this freakin cold!

[Satty]

Try starting a V8 whose carburetor sticks and whose crankcase is full of 10w40 and whose starter is near death in this cold.

[Robert Hall]

Try starting a diesel in this freakin cold!

My diesel Escort had an engine block heater..kept it plugged in in the winter.

The coldest I remember starting a car was in '93 in NE Ohio...was -25F, cold and sunny. My '86 Mustang LX college car (2.3 4cyl, carby) started, ran roughly. But the power steering was frozen and couldn't shift. Took the bus instead that day.

[Paolino]

My diesel Escort had an engine block heater..kept it plugged in in the winter.

The coldest I remember starting a car was in '93 in NE Ohio...was -25F, cold and sunny. My '86 Mustang LX college car (2.3 4cyl, carby) started, ran roughly. But the power steering was frozen and couldn't shift. Took the bus instead that day.

93 was a horrible winter... I'll never forget the several days in a row 1 week where the wind chills were like -10, and our bus never showed up to pick us up for school... we were waiting outside for 45-60 minutes only to find out no one was coming.

[daves87rs]

I guess I was lucky last night...

-7, and she started right up...

[Robert Hall]

93 was a horrible winter... I'll never forget the several days in a row 1 week where the wind chills were like -10, and our bus never showed up to pick us up for school... we were waiting outside for 45-60 minutes only to find out no one was coming.

I remember several times that winter bundling up and walking from my apartment and walking to the campus rather than driving or trying to catch the bus.... I lived about 1 1/2 miles from the campus, and had an on-campus parking permit as I was a grad student at the time and a teaching assistant. Got a lot more more snow and cold in NE Ohio from '89-94 that I remember than when I was in SE Michigan from '94-97 (had ice storms there, but less snow in general, more gray).

Edited January 16, 2009 by moltar

[NOS2006]

Yep, -7 here this morning and the car started up fine.

[Intrepidation]

I was told the Mercury wasn't too happy about being woken up this morning. Haven't run the Prizm since last week, and the other cars the week before.

Hope the Prizm starts, I need it today.

[Camino LS6]

Try starting a V8 whose carburetor sticks and whose crankcase is full of 10w40 and whose starter is near death in this cold.

I have one of those- it just takes a bit of talent and experience.

Actually the diesel started fine - just insanely loudly.

The Duramax is actually the easiest diesel to start in the cold of any I've ever dealt with, and I have never needed to plug it in.

[daves87rs]

I was told the Mercury wasn't too happy about being woken up this morning. Haven't run the Prizm since last week, and the other cars the week before.

Hope the Prizm starts, I need it today.

Is the battery pretty new?

[Intrepidation]

Is the battery pretty new?

It's probably 5 or so years old.

[Cory Wolfe]

Luckily, I don't have to go anywhere to today.

[Northstar]

It is currently -11 here (not counting windchill).

[Intrepidation]

We're at a balmy 7.

[z28luvr01]

Is that a Cobalt, Frank?

, with the optional white-faced gauges.

[Cremazie]

Guys, come on!!

Your cars all had better start at ~0F, The Ford Escape that I use for work started at -43C, (-45.4F), not plugged in!

[Paolino]

Guys, come on!!

Your cars all had better start at ~0F, The Ford Escape that I use for work started at -43C, (-45.4F), not plugged in!

Uh... -43C?

EDIT: Nevermind.. you prob meant -13 I forget about numberpads since I have been using my laptop for years!

Edited January 16, 2009 by Paolino

[Robert Hall]

Uh... -43C?

EDIT: Nevermind.. you prob meant -13 I forget about numberpads since I have been using my laptop for years!

-43C sounds plausable for Canada...my friends from Regina have told me about horrific winter cold. I don't know how people live there. With windchill, doesn't it get down to -100 or -200C in some places in Ca in the winter?

Edited January 16, 2009 by moltar

[Z-06]

Try starting a diesel in this freakin cold!

Screech, Screech, Purrrr, Knock Knock, Hurr hurrrr, hurrr, psssssssssssssst

Screech, Screech, Purrrr, Knock Knock, Hurr hurrrr, hurrr, psssssssssssssst

Screech, Screech, Purrrr, Knock Knock, Hurr hurrrr, hurrr, psssssssssssssst

Screech, Screech, Purrrr, Knock Knock, Hurr hurrrr, hurrr, psssssssssssssst

Vroom Vroooooooom Vroooooooooooooooooooooom.

Couldn't resist that.

[NOS2006]

, with the optional white-faced gauges.

That's what I thought.. it looks like my sister's G5!

[Robert Hall]

Screech, Screech, Purrrr, Knock Knock, Hurr hurrrr, hurrr, psssssssssssssst

Screech, Screech, Purrrr, Knock Knock, Hurr hurrrr, hurrr, psssssssssssssst

Screech, Screech, Purrrr, Knock Knock, Hurr hurrrr, hurrr, psssssssssssssst

Screech, Screech, Purrrr, Knock Knock, Hurr hurrrr, hurrr, psssssssssssssst

Vroom Vroooooooom Vroooooooooooooooooooooom.

Couldn't resist that.

Do you still have to wait for a light to go off before cranking w/ diesels today? I know w/ my '84 Escort diesel, I'd turn the key, wait 30 seconds until a light went out, then crank...something about glow plugs warming up, I think.

[Cremazie]

Uh... -43C?

EDIT: Nevermind.. you prob meant -13 I forget about numberpads since I have been using my laptop for years!

Nope, -43C may sound like a lie but it is very true. I work 400KM North of Edmonton in the oil sands.

Here is a blip from Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_McMurray

"Temperatures average -19°C in winter with the lowest recorded -50.6°C, (-58°F).[7] In July temperatures average 17°C, with the highest recorded being 37°C in August.[7] Its annual precipitation amounts to 455.5 millimetres (17.9 in) and falls mainly in the summer months, its snowfall is 155.8 centimetres (61.3 in)[7] and appears within a range of 5 to 7 months.?

[NOS2006]

Yeah, right now it's 0*F at home with a -17*F windchill. Mmmmmm

I hate the north.

[Intrepidation]

-43C, (-45.4F),

That's what's confusing people I think.

[Robert Hall]

That's what's confusing people I think.

Well, remember, -40C = -40F. That's where the two lines cross.

[Intrepidation]

Oh really, well then it was just me then.

[Robert Hall]

Yeah, right now it's 0*F at home with a -17*F windchill. Mmmmmm

I hate the north.

Yeah, I dislike Arizona for many reasons, but the weather here in January is incredible.

[NOS2006]

Yeah, I dislike Arizona for many reasons, but the weather here in January is incredible.

I wouldn't mind being in the Carolinas anytime of the year...

[NeonLX]

It's -18F here this a.m.

Coldest I've ever been in was -34F. This was back in 1969. Diesels wouldn't run at all because the fuel jelled inside the injector lines. We used to start our John Deere diesel tractor with shots of ether into the air intake, which would be followed by some very ominous knocking sounds from deep down inside the engine. Was always afraid the rods would come hurtling out the side of the block but it never happened.

[NOS2006]

Where are you from, NeonLX?

[Satty]

Well what do you know, my car started. Eventually, it took a few cranks, but it usually does. Now if only that darn blower motor hadn't gone out. Then I would have had heat to go along with my running car.

[Intrepidation]

Is the blower motor a bitch to get at in your car Satty?

[Satty]

Haven't even had the chance to look. It went out Wednesday, it was 15 degrees yesterday and its 20 (and snowing) today. And since my car doesn't fit in the garage, I'll live with it since its supposed to be in the 40's (i.e. livable) the next week or so.

[Intrepidation]

Just went out to start the Prizm. Started up fine, but then wanted to stall. Gave it a little gas to get things moving. Noticed a wurring sound, and a belt squeaking. It's not happy.

Letting it warm up now.

[NOS2006]

haha 1.6L cylinders of fury!

[Intrepidation]

haha 1.6L cylinders of fury!

Hellz Yeah!

[Robert Hall]

74F and sunny here today.. will be rollin' home in a few hours in a 2dr ht w/ the windows down and the sunroof open.

[NOS2006]

You're an asshole.

[daves87rs]

It's probably 5 or so years old.

Well, mine just made it to six..so there is hope...

[Intrepidation]

Once it got warmed up it was fine. I rewarded it with a much needed car wash.

[Robert Hall]

Speaking of the weather, I checked USAirways on the flight status of my sister's flight from Columbus this afternoon--- the flight goes on to Anchorage tonight, and I'm amazed--the temp in Anchorage is nearly 40 degrees higher than that in Columbus, Ohio.

Airport Weather

Weather provided by Weather.com Airport Information provided by US Airways

Columbus, OH

Mostly Cloudy

Current Temp: 4°F

10-Day Forecast

Phoenix, AZ

Fair

Current Temp: 78°F

10-Day Forecast

Anchorage, AK

Cloudy

Current Temp: 41°F

10-Day Forecast

Edited January 16, 2009 by moltar

[trinacriabob]

As you know, anything in the coastal NW is moderated by the proximity to water. It seemed that, when I lived in Seattle, the daily winter temperature ranged from 36 to 44 degrees.

[Robert Hall]

As you know, anything in the coastal NW is moderated by the proximity to water. It seemed that, when I lived in Seattle, the daily winter temperature ranged from 36 to 44 degrees.

True..I forget that Anchorage is not deep in the interior of Alaska or on the Arctic coast...

[Paolino]

That's what's confusing people I think.

Well, remember, -40C = -40F. That's where the two lines cross.

Yes, it was... I didn't know they crossed at that point--I just figured -43C would be more severe in F terms... like -100 or something!

[PONTIAC06]

Do you still have to wait for a light to go off before cranking w/ diesels today? I know w/ my '84 Escort diesel, I'd turn the key, wait 30 seconds until a light went out, then crank...something about glow plugs warming up, I think.

One of my old work trucks (2003) Ford F250 still had the light indicating the glow plugs were warming up. I usually drove an 08 F350 but never noticed a glow plug light in it.

As far as the weather goes, it was a beautiful 51 degrees in Laramie, with about zero wind all day...unusual since Jan-Feb is usually always in the negatives with 40 mph constant winds...gotta be thankful for the small things!