My New Baby... Can I drive in REALLY COLD weather? Pics

[t6dpilot]

Hey Guys,
I need some quick advice. I picked up a new car last week - 1969 ex-CA car that was build to RGruppe style. I love the car, but she is grounded in an unheated garage right now due to crappy weather we recently had in the midwest. I want to take advantage to clear weather and dry roads today to drive her to her winter home - a heated hanger.

My question is this... The high today is going to be 17 - yes that's right 17. Gotta love the midwest in the winter. Is it safe to drive an aircooled 911 when it is so cold? I have to assume that you can, but I just thought I would post the question to all you experts out there.

Did I mention that the car has headers and therefore, NO HEAT! The car will probably be fine - it is the driver that is going to have a malfunction!

[lars63]

Spiffy car
I would think the car would be OK but you better wait until a member with a little more knowledge than me to answer that before you take that beautiful car for a ride.

No heater better dress warm *smile*

[ben parrish]

Temp is not a problem....salt on the roads is the killer.

[livi]

I would say they rather love the cold, dense air. Mine always feels more powerful on cold winter days. In fact, I hear one of the reasons Ferdinand chose an air cooled concept was the cold European winters. Problems with expensive anti freeze etc.

And that is a beautiful car!

[wholberg]

My car loves cold weather, in fact, the colder it is, the better it seems to run, although in NC, we're only talking temps in the '20s at the worst.

I would not drive it without a heater, though, because of the lack of a defroster, which I think would be a safety hazard. You cannot take the moisture out of your breath, and if the windows are below freezing, they will ice up. Given the extremes of Ill. winters, I just would not be manly enough to drive with the windows down all the time.

[coldstart]

Has it snowed yet? If so, there is likely salt on the road. While it won't kill your car, I would recommend having it towed if there is salt on the road.

[Gunter]

Looks nice.
What viscosity is the oil you are using? Dino 5W30, 10W30 or?
If you drive it without a heater, put on a Balaclava, roll your window down and don't breathe onto the windshield.
Salt is the killer. Even when the roads are dry, there may be salt on the road. Just store it and wait for spring.
Why is it so low, especially in the rear?

[78-911SC]

Scott first turn on the pitot heat. Check for ice on control surfaces. Maybe use of a cooling restrictor plate on the oil cooler. If you feel you are experiencing a power loss turn on the de-icing. If that doesn't work head south to warmer air. Florida would be good. We are around 80 today. Great looking car!!

[Nine9six]

What ben parrish said...

[randywebb]

Originally posted by ben parrish
Temp is not a problem....salt on the roads is the killer.

repeated for RE-EMPHASIS!

your car has little or no galvanizing - don't do it!!

[cstreit]

Scott,

REally nice aquisition!

There's nothing wrong wtih driving the car. I'd let it warm up real well in this weather... Not only the engine but the trans as well. Drive gently untill it's up to a reasonable temp.. Then also keep in mind that your trans is gonna be a bit stiff in this weather, so go easy on her for a bit...

The biggest issue IMHO is the damn Chicago salt. You know the 4" piles that accumulate in the intersections after a single snowflake has hit the ground. That's a gorgeous car and I'd hate for it to get salt-rot....

A '76 GT-3? Is that a Club Racer? We should talk!

[CurtEgerer]

Lookin' good, Scott. Glad to see we were able to keep that one in the Great Lakes region! Is it Spring yet?

[slow&rusty]

Originally posted by randywebb
repeated for RE-EMPHASIS!

your car has little or no galvanizing - don't do it!!

+1...

For peace of mind a few hundred bucks depending how far your heated hangar is can be spent on a flat bed - especially if you call around and get a componay who might be slow that day.

I have driven many high performance cars without heat in the middle of winter 10-25F degrees outside and it takes lots of will power PLU two pairs of socks, long johns, several layers, gloves you name it...all for the love of the hobby!

Its crazeee...but I wouldn't trade it!

Yasin

[mjshira]

I used to drive my previous early 911 in the snow (in fact a pic of this was in the rgruppe newsletter of the following spring that year) this was not an issue because the car didn't have lSD and also was sealed as it had been restored and during which the body was protected for rust. As you probably already know, the early cars were not as well protected from rust by Porsche as later models have been.

I like the look of that car, nice! Hope to meet you and get a closer look at the car in person at one of our events.

So depending on your cars set up, you can enjoy it in the cold.

[gassy]

I've got my longhood bundled up in Elmhurst--10 min. away--I'd love to meet you someday!
Christian.

[gassy]

great looking car BTW--forgot to mention.

[MRM]

It is really hard on our cars to start them when they are really cold. If the car is stored in a heated garage, then I see nothing wrong with driving it when it's cold outside. Some people on the board drive up here in Minneapolis all year around. I always thought that if I was going to start my car when it was very cold out I would invest in one of those plug in heaters that attach to the oil drain plug. I think it's probably a good idea to have the oil pretty warm before you try to start it.

[slammed1000]

i see no problems with driving it...i would however make sure that it had 10/30 in it as alot of the porsche crowd seems to run 20/50. salt may be a issue to some but if it is cleaned up after use its not a big issue. you bought the car to drive and not sit as a garage queen. i plan on taking mine out this winter as i have the same situation as you....headers,no heat.......

[EarlyPorsche]

Yeah cold heavy oil (the oil that is used in these engines) is super thick when cold. I had to add a quart the other day and it was like adding heavy syrup. I wouldn't drive it below freezing as the bearings are not likely to get lubrication for quite a bit after running.

[mjshira]

if you run syn oil and a lighter oil you'll be fine. let it run for 5 min before driving, keep revs down until temp comes up.