Unusual cold spell in good old Wyoming, range from -30 to 2 º F above, the past week. What should I worry about besides the basics? I did learn that V6 dont like cold (-10 º F). Hard start.

 

Appropriate antifreeze. I believe 50/50 is good up to -80F? Someone correct me if I'm wrong there. A battery with a higher CCA rating will start easier in cold. That's about it.

 

Not even close, more like -35F or so. 60/40 is good to -60F, which is colder than anything in the lower 48 is ever going to get. To get to -80F you'd need 70/30.

 

If your TB is bypassed then it could get stuck open in really cold weather.

 

30 weight oil .... anti-freeze like others said .... as far as him relying on a thermometer or weather forecasters wouldn't he have to factor in wind chill as to his ultimate coolant mixture? Get a block heater that will end all of your troubles and allow the coolant to be warm before you ever start it.
on a side note though .... that is some serious cold air induction LOL

 

30 weight oil would actually be a bad idea. 5w30 would be better, or if it was really cold, then 0w30.

No need to worry about wind chill, cars don't have skin.

 

Cracking interior parts.



That's what I got from the weather here in Denver.

 

I meant 5w30 actually ... sorry I just call it 30weight is all

 

30 weight and 5w30 are completely different animals.

5w30 or 0w30 would be the oil to use.

Probably the most important thing would be to plug in the block heater. Put it on a timer so it runs for 2 hours before you start the car in the morning (assuming 0°F) and all night if it's -30°. Makes a world of difference. Warms the block, the oil, and the coolant. Easier starting, better fuel economy, less pollution, much less wear on parts.

Might want to invest in a battery heater. A little blanket type thing that plugs in.

Hope you're not running a 160° thermostat. You're losing inside cabin heat and fuel economy, not to mention wear.

Good point above about the not doing the TB bypass. In this case, you'd want that warmed up air going into the TB. Probably more of a factor on the highway than for slow city driving.

50/50 antifreeze is good to -37°C which works out to -35°F. Should be OK with that.

If you're just dealing with cold and not with snow and iced up windows, start driving after a minute. No need to let it warm up longer than that. Cars warm up faster when they're driven than they do when they're idling in one spot. The faster the warmup, the better for the engine. Just take it easy until everything is up to normal temperature.
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I like the "Plug at 20°" plan.

http://www.ci.anchorage.ak.us/healthesd/WhyPlug20F.cfm

 

That happened to me a couple of weeks ago down here in FL in about the same spot. Really that is the worst thing that could happen.

 

lol windchill thats a different story, my car sits in the garage at around 33 degrees, i have 10w-30 im probably goin to change it to 5w, but when I go to school what worries me sitting 7-12 hours in the cold. Anti Freeze iirc is good for -35 or so below, when i did that thermostat change last winter and replace the anti freeze i didn't expect it reach -35 this winter. Thanks for info very helpful

 

don't 4get to change your windshield washer fluid to a better combination. I've read the bottles and it only says like a 5* difference, but i've never had the pink stuff freeze as apposed to the blue stuff. Don't need to crack the container even if it is relatively cheap to replace or burn out the motor. Other than that it's all about covered. Also for winter months i suggest removing the dash pad if it is in good shape. That's what i do and haven't had a problem yet. Good luck!

 

Usually never this cold. Global warming my ***

 

lol, didn't you get the memo...it's all just a rumor, lol.

 

That's why it's properly called "climate change", not "global warming".

I don't know though, I'm from Edmonton. If you guys are complaining this much at -35, I'd hate to hear the noise you'd make if it actually got cold.

 

lol yeah its been getting cold in ND got to -40 the other day...dam dash cracked...not to big thow...and you probly want to get block heater if its your daily driver, but its probly dosent stay -40 degrees for days on end

Ice + rwd = no movement

 

Ice + rwd = fun