Starting Engine In The Cold

[BDM]

Ok so how are you starting your engine in this cold weather.

I assume if you tried to start a Tuscy right now it would tick then cut out as its so cold... Dont want to do anything to damage the engine in any way...

I know the V8 lads hold the revs at 2k revs for 30 secs...but we dont have a V8.Lol.

Merry christmas

[Mark A S]

Just fired mine up, started fine, no probs at all. Did have “warning Oil temp -3” on it for a while though!
As there is ice all over the local roads near to me, I think I will take the pick up

[m0ssy]

Im driving to the folks Christmas eve and have been thinking about my warm up procedure for the last few days.....

There is a cover on it at the moment but windows will be iced over too.

Difficult to start up and head straight off with the windows like that but obviously don't want to sit on the drive ideling to warm.

I wondered if best bet would be to de-ice, start up and hold the revs at 1500 for 25/ 30 seconds and then reverse off the drive hoping it won't cut out and drive as far as possible (probably 300 yards) before the windows ice up again and then stop and idle (1500 rpm) for a while until I can clear it?

[Mark A S]

This is a pic of my drive today, there is 1/2" ice, and the Tuscan got stuck whilst moving around! Its only a very very slight slope!
Diff took a while to spin up both wheels, using the brakes cured this!

Deffo using the pick up when its like this

[WhyTwo]

Having only driven mine once since early Oct due to it having rained almost everyday (yes mines a bit of garage queen, more like a high days and holidays toy TBH) I thought I should fire it up. I know everybody says you shouldn't leave it to idle and usually I don't but I thought better that than not even start it for 3 or 4 months

So I disconnected the trickle charger and it fired 1st time no problem. Left it to run for 3 or 4 minutes and it all seems fine, Now nicely tucked up under a cover waiting for the ice to thaw so I can get up the drive and out for a nice run. A dry sunny Christmas day would be perfect for roof off fun before tucking into the turkey dinner!

Thanks for all the helpful advice on here over the last year. If you are out and about in these conditions take it easy and have a good Christmas!

[asrovak]

Just use common sense, dont be tempted! If you are going to use your Tcar in these conditions, get some heat into it first by whatever warmup method you prefer, drive carefully respect the conditions and please dont stack it

Merry Xmas to all and now happy new ytear!
Steve

Edited by asrovak on Tuesday 29th December 17:17

Edited by asrovak on Tuesday 29th December 17:18

[Daston]

Got to drive mine both xmas day and boxing day. Just plan on pulling it out the garage whacking the heaters on and off I go.....very sloooooooowly

Just hope I fix the starting problem tomorrow lol

[Steve Devaney]

Can someone please explain to me why the car should not be left to idle and why it should be driven from cold?
I totally understand the reason for keeping the revs below 2500(ish) before it is warm but why is idling when cold not recommended? Is it because there is more 'load' on the engine whilst ticking over?

[SP6 Animal]

I think it's to do with not enough oil flow around the top of the engine at low revs but ive been wrong before

[Daston]

SP6 Animal said:

I think it's to do with not enough oil flow around the top of the engine at low revs but ive been wrong before

not just that, when its idle the oil in the gearbox/diff do not warm up as much. So you could be thrashing what you think is a warm engine but causing ware to the gear box.

[WhyTwo]

So if it's just to fire up the engine and allow it to tick over and you're not planning to drive the car or start revving the engine, leaving it to idle for a few minutes isn't likely to do any harm?

[asrovak]

When the weather is as cold and icy as this, i leave the car to tick over for a few mins allowing the water temp to climb a little. I vary the tickover speed with the throttle, but dont exceed 1300 rpm, I take the point that the transmission isnt being warmed, and neither are the tyres, so i drive it very gingerly for 15-20 mins, keeping an eye on oil temp as it will start to drop once moving. A few mins idling may cause some engine wear, but to be honest, most peeps here will find themselves at junctions/traffic lights or at this time of year sitting in queues behind xmas shoppers and idling cold anyway. In any event, any engine wear issues can be offset by the demisting and ice clearance, which if not resolved cause the greater risk of a potential incident if you cant see properly.
IMHO i think not starting the engine regularly is a bigger risk, as the oil is very thin and the top engine becomes very dry after a few days as the oil drains away. - and dont forget to check the fluids!
Sermon over.

Merry Xmas to all

Steve

[Steve Devaney]

IMHO i think not starting the engine regularly is a bigger risk, as the oil is very thin and the top engine becomes very dry after a few days as the oil drains away. - and dont forget to check the fluids!
Sermon over.

Merry Xmas to all

Steve
[/quote]

...............Reminds me - haven't cranked mine in a while!!!

[Robertjp]

I have been advised to do it the way you have been BDM, when you start up, hold the revs between 1800 and 2k rpm for about 8-10 seconds, gets the oil shifting.

Then use the warm up procedure as normal, which everyone seems to do differently! I keep under 2k rpm until i get to 30 degrees, then under 3000 until i get to 50 degrees, then under 4k until 60 degrees, then all hell breaks loose

Edited by Robertjp on Tuesday 29th December 17:01

[asrovak]

Just use common sense, dont be tempted! If you are going to use your Tcar in these conditions, get some heat into it first by whatever warmup method you prefer, drive carefully respect the conditions and please dont stack it

happy new year!
Steve

[martinj999]

Anyone know about, thought about or tried pre-oilers?

[T350 Al]

I've found having a fan heater in the garage quite useful. Used it with a timer plug to come on early this morning before we took the car for its service. Outside temp was 3-4 degrees but the oil and water temp were showing around 10 degrees before I set off. Does it actually make any difference? Well, I don't know but it certainly made me feel better!