Are there any likely problems with having a FI system in very cold weather? It's still in the single/low double digits in CT now and I wonder if a FI car would have any difficulty. What problems exactly I don't know.


Admitedly, there are a lot of stock FI cars out there and I'm sure they're designed to work in all types of weather.

 

Lets just say FI loves COLD WEATHER! You should be worried about HOT weather not cold... HOT=TEMPERATURE RISING, Possible DETONATION, etc... COLD WEATHER= MORE BOOST! faster response and more fun!

 

Hmm, that's true. I was thinking more about oil and starting a freezing cold car. My Accord sounds like crap when I start it, but it settles out fairly quickly.

 

Well, if you live in a cold enviorment than use a different oil that is for that enviorment... You shouldn't have a problem Make sure you warm a FI car though, that is VERY VERY important.

 

I've been driving a '91 Eclipse GSX (AWD Turbo) all winter (and it's been really cold here!) and as long as you warm the car up, its performs really well. Biggest issue I have is with the gears grinding in cold weather, but again, nothing that warming the car up won't cure.

 

The trick in the cold weather is to not run boost until you have positive oil temperature, ie - the gauge moved. The worst thing for a turbo (besides overspining due to faulty wastegate accuators) is stuff getting gunked up in the internal components. So long as you do the proper start up and shut down procedure, it's fine. Unless you have an Audi running K03 turbos, in which case they're going to blow no matter what you do.

PS - rouxeny, where in CT are you? I have in Fairfield on sat and let's just say the Z gets a lot of attention from the ladies!

 

i work in the desert. and all i can say is. an SC RULES in cold air.


i havent installed my intercooler yet, but MANG. the SC runs great in cool weather.

the only thing is make sure your oil is warmed up prior to punching it. but other than that. no big deal..

 

Yep... I live in Houston, Texas and all I gotta say is that my turbo Audi A4 really liked the cold weather. The colder the better.


Good point. In the cold, the oil will be thick.. the pump may not move it as well as it can when the oil is warned up and thinner.

PeteH

 

Both systems prefer colder air. Even a cold air intake. The reason why is think about an air molcue. When it is hot it is moving around rapidly. You then have a cold molecue which is moving around and is very still and take up less space. You can fit more air and fuel with cold molecue because it takes up less space because it isn't moving around. More fuel and air the more power.

thanks,
Greg

 

I have a 97 Eclipse Turbo and it does great in cold weather just make sure you warm up the engine a little before getting on it. But you will notice a huge HP increase in cold temp over a warm day. have fun

 

My MR2T loved cold weather. Just make sure the engine is fully warmed up before using boost.

 

So true. My A4 is loving the 10 degree days lately.

 

Ouch! They're not *that* bad. But yeah, they are a bit undersized, especially with an aftermarket chip. Super fast spin-up allowing for very little lag... but the darn things just heat soak so quickly when you've got the car chipped in hot weather. The S4 turbo reliability problem is worse than the A4, since those poor little turbos on the S4 are crammed way down in the engine bay with no breathing room. Gotta pull the whole darn engine out just to replace the turbos, too.

For the record, I've had no noticeable heat-related problems on my A4 during 90+ degree weather when I am running the stock chip. Then again, the stock chip is so underpowered it's painful. On the other hand, if I put in the aftermarket chip (which almost doubles the boost), I get a *lot* of heat-related issues during hot weather, but it runs like a champ in cold weather.