Coruscation

Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Sandy Hook Manitoba Ca
Posts: 3,359

The over night lows here are hitting -30F and with the windchill 
it feels like -45F

My MC starts every time, first time,with no block heater.I do 
have a trickle charger that plugs into the cig. lighter, keeps the 
battery topped up,and warm.

I make sure I turn off everything at shut down,heater 
fan,radio,and that the e-brake is on,so the DRLs are off. I find it 
cranks alittle slower than normal, but catches everytime. Idle is 
rougher than normal for about 15 seconds. Then it levels out at about 
1200RPM, I hold the clutch in for about 30 seconds or so,the car 
stalled once last winter after I let the clutch out to fast, the 
tranny oil is thick at these temps. Then I slowly let the clutch out 
and keep the idle up till the pedal is fully released, it is a bit 
noisy, but that goes away after things start moving.

Then I turn on the heater fan, seat heat,never use high setting, 
rear defog, and the AC to dry the air to help clear the windows.At 
these temps. I let the car warm up for between 5-10 min.But I have 
driven away once I'm buckled up,and the car just drives away.

Now I do keep revs below 3000RPM until the car is up to normal 
operating temp.

The Pirelli Snowcontrols don't seem to get "square wheel" as bad 
as the all seasons I ran last winter,could be that they run at 44PSI. 
The cockpit is very warm,all the windows are clear,and the little guy 
still goes like snot.

Now there are a few new rattles,but at these temps. I rattle too. 
But with the heater blasting,radio going over that,not to mention 
paying attention to the ice and snow,I don't really hear them.

The MPG tank at these temps. I fill my tank at 1/2 empty 
normally, and I usually go 400KMs by then.At these temps I get between 
300-325KMs at 1/2 a tank.Warm-up,wheel spin,and plowing through snow 
play into this,but the cold temps cause bearings to freeze up,and I'm 
sure that it is harder for the car to run at these temps period.

This car works great at these temps,and I feel safe on my hour 
highway commute in it.