Date:         Fri, 16 Jan 2004 14:07:07 -0500
Reply-To:     Jean-Pierre Le Cruguel <lecruguel@EPID.JGH.MCGILL.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jean-Pierre Le Cruguel <lecruguel@EPID.JGH.MCGILL.CA>
Subject:      Re: just how COLD is it where u are..
In-Reply-To:  <200401161318531.SM01416@cherry.ease.lsoft.com>
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It's still feel cold, but it seems better than yesterday. aorund -20C
today. Was around -30C yesterday in Montreal.
Felt like -40 to -45C with the wind.

Regarding cold start, from what I know:
at those temp, if you can, do not take your car/van if you don't have too.
Cold starts are hard on the engine, cold driving also hurt the whole
drivetrain. as the grease is often seazed.
Do not take you car if it's less for than a 30 minutes drive. that's the
worst thing.
In the first 20 minutes or so, vapor accumulate everywhere in the
engine. it disapears once the engine is warm enough.
that will take at least 20 minutes. sometimes more in extreme cold.
it will result in rust.

I drove from Montreal to Quebec last weekend to see a west. it was in
the -45C range easy!
5h Drive both ways. My 92 passat syncro engine temp gauge never went
past the 75C line (it starts at 70 and go past 110C. it is normally in
the 95C for such conditions. My alternator fried on the way back (do not
think it's related. but the Quebec AAA equivalent had a record day that
day).
Things that were going to break will in such conditions. I would not
drive a 20 years old van such as a west in a day like that.

regarding the time at idle. a couple of minutes. no more. the rpm is to
slow to warm the engine and the oil.
So what you do is running the engine badly lubricated if any.  Remote
starter are pretty bad. They are supposed to have 2 minutes limits. But
they often have 5 minutes or so. sometimes more.
the key is a very slow drive. if you can.  depending where you live. I
agree is 's not always possible. But it better to drive around for a
while rather than running it at idle and than on the freeway.
it helps to slowly warm all the parts all together with decent regime.
Also do not use the vent for heating in the first minutes. it can not do
anything and take heat away from engine.
Remove the snow from the air intake. otherwise you will only get humid
air. do not use the recycle air thing. you do not need you humidity
concentrating.

This applies to gas engines. Diesel engines need even more precautions.

JP