Question to those who drive their 911 in the winter

11-19-2001, 06:50 AM

This year I have streched things a bit and still drive my Carrera 3.2 well into november. We haven't had snow yet, but it has been rather cold (down to the freezing point sometimes) and also rather wet.

I have noticed how my engine doesn't like to be started when it's close to freezing point (0 degree C). It goes wraumm...rrr...wraumm...rrr and so on jumping up and down the revs. (Already discussed in another post).

Also the oil temp struggles to reach operating temp instead stabalizing around midway between the first marking and the second marking (operating temp). When it's below 5 degree C it just manages to squeeze past the first marking and stays there regardless how far or quickly I drive. Letting the car idle before takeoff is useless. Doesn't help a bit except for making it run more softly the first kms.

Another thing that I have noticed when it's close to 0 degree C is that the interior seems to rattle and creek more? During summer it doesn't.

On a side note my gearchange has gotten much better in the cold weather after I recently had the stock gearoil replaced with synthetic gearoil. However as much as third gear has become a joy to select, second gear has become harder to select? Sometimes it's fine while other times I need to actually use force to pull the gear lever into second? It wasn't like that before the oil change. If third gear has improved so much why has second partly gotten worse with the change to synthetic oil?

Driving in the winter weather also makes my car extremely dirty. I feel so bad for not washing it at least once a month, but the low temps aren't exactly ideal for washing a car outside.

So what I would like to know is if you have the same problems/symptoms and what you do to fight them? I feel so bad for treating my car like this although it has coped well with the treatment.

wckrause · wckrause's Garage

I can't help you with your cold start problem on your 3.2. My CIS system starts fine at temps well below 0C, I've started it as low as -18F.

I'm interested in what gear oil you switched to. I put Swepco in this summer, but I'm not happy with it in cold weather. It works OK once the tranny has warmed up, but unitl then all the shifts are difficult. I'd like to try a synthetic.

Have you thought about an electric oil heater? You plug the car into your AC outlet for a while before driving. I've seen some magnetic heaters that look like they might work, but I haven't figured out where to put them.

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 11-19-2001, 07:17 AM

Please. have you ever tried to start a car with chokeless carburetors when it's 10 degrees F. in the Hudson River Valley? Best you have somebody stand by with a firebottle if you do.

Stephan

carrera · 11-19-2001, 07:18 AM

re: snowman

i drive my carrera all winter and have for a number of years
the increased creaking due to cold is normal as everything contracts and hardens
as for hard starting, this is not normal as my cars performance is the same summer or winter
actually it seems to be faster in the winter(cold dense air)
now as for washing, while my car is certainly no garage queen i am still quite fanatical about its cleanliness, i wash it at least twice a week in winter and depending on circumstances sometimes more.
i do like this car and feel that lots of cleaning is a worthwhile exercise
i would recommend a tuneup to get you car back to normal as all this increased turning is hard on the starter
drive it but clean it and it will stay looking good

ps i am still driving on my so2's and on cold days it is shall we say "exciting", i guess it is time for the 210's.

who else is a "snowman" and what tires are you using ?

wckrause · wckrause's Garage

Goodyear Ultra Grips. 185/65R15 on front and back.

carrera · 11-19-2001, 07:23 AM

Bill;

i am using mobil synthetic and really like it, the shifting is great regardless of temp.
i have the 915 gearbox

wckrause · wckrause's Garage

Are there different weights of Mobil synthetic gear lube?

I think I'm going to repack my CV joints next summer, and use synthetic grease in there also.

Saffs · 11-19-2001, 07:47 AM

It's part of loving a 911 in a deeper way, using it all winter - if you choose too, fine if you don't. Last Winter I drove without heating as my heat exchangers were useless. I remember driving a 200 mile journey at night when it was below freezing. My legs went completely numb. I wouldn't do that again....
There's loads more interior creaks and groans in the cold - as there is with most cars. I've had a few fuel injected cars that surge when cold, an easy fix. In Winter I wash m 911 every week and hose of the underneath. I use hand wash ones - where someone else does it!
Something about a dirty and salt covered 911, in the snow, going 90 with the headlights on, (the inside full of your luggage etc.) looks great and more functional than it being driven on a Sunny day.

Decolliber · 11-19-2001, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Saffs
I've had a few fuel injected cars that surge when cold, an easy fix.

What is it?

11-20-2001, 12:51 AM

wckrause

The synthetic gearoil is called Quakerstate 75/90. It has improved my gearchange overall, but still sometimes second gear gets quite firm - a bit annoying. My mechanic tried the oil in his own 911 which has a differential with 70% lock or something like that. He said that it increased the noise from the differential a lot so if your gearbox is not a stock one I guess this oil perhaps isn't the ideal solution? For me it's better than with a stock gearoil.

tight as a bull's ass · tight as a bull's ass's Garage

I drive mine all year round too....4 Bridgestone Blizzaks and it handles like a snowmobile....last winter around this area, we had about 4 heavy snowfalls so it wasnt too bad...you just gotta make sure your battery is up to speed for starting power during those frigid temperatures

I remember one night driving during a heavy blizzard and seeing cars and SUVs stuck in the snow on the side of the road.....I was doing a steady 30-40 mph (which is quite fast with tons of snow on the ground and coming down all around you).

So far this season, the weather has been perfect! Rarely under 50 here in NE.....

Thinking of heading up to the White Mountains this week....there's nothing like the dense cool air fueling the flat-six on a drive up and down Kankamangus hiway.

I never get sick of driving the 911

EM

goat43 · 11-20-2001, 10:09 AM

What kind of Les Paul do you have?

Signed, '70 Deluxe cherry sunburst

rscupper · 11-20-2001, 10:21 AM

Kankamangus? Aren't there shots for that now?

tight as a bull's ass · tight as a bull's ass's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by goat43
What kind of Les Paul do you have?

Signed, '70 Deluxe cherry sunburst

I have a 1990 std Tobacco sunburst and a Cherry Sunburst classic '70 re-issue....

Who signed yours?

Also, Kankamangus hiway is a semi-famous scenic road through the White Mts of New Hampshire.....we cant let all your guys out on the West coast have all the scenic drives!

Emmanuel
83sc
http://www.basementouttakes.com/

goat43 · 11-20-2001, 10:53 AM

Sorry, didn't mean "signed" by someone; that was just my way of signing off. However, when I got the guitar in 1972 (at age 15 ), I did remove the plastic covers on the back and neck and write my own name inside in indelible ink! Does that count?

tight as a bull's ass · tight as a bull's ass's Garage

Of course that counts, Goat.

That 72 Les Paul (assuming it's all original) is probably worth a lot more than what you paid for it at 15! But you probably wouldn't want to part with it since you've had it all those years.

Emmanuel

goat43 · 11-20-2001, 11:49 AM

Yup, all original, including all the scratches and chips. I bought it from a grade-school friend of mine for $250. Wouldn't let it go for anything. I'm sure you know the feeling.