Engine temp in COLD weather

GH85Carrera · GH85Carrera's Garage

OK, simple question for the folks that live in a cold climate.

I was out in my 911 last night. The air temperature was 6F (-14C). Dang cold. It was clear and there is no ice or salt or sand.

I drove my 85 Carrera for over an hour and a half. The oil temperature was 155 or 160. It never did get warm. I have a temperature guage with a real number scale not the stock hash marks.

The engine thermostat was replaced while the engine was apart. The front oil cooler never got a hint of warmth.

We don't often get single digit temperatures around here. It that just normal operating temperature for a 911 in COLD weather?

It was the first time I have ever needed to have the heater levers all the way on to stay toasty warm in the car. I did not need the foot-well blowers.

mclmk8d · mclmk8d's Garage

I noticed that also in my 87 Carrera. It takes much longer to warm up and doesn't go to 190...I'm in Berwyn, PA, and like you, we've had very cold temps.

theiceman · 01-24-2014, 05:13 AM

Normal..

JQ911 · JQ911's Garage

I drove the other day before Winter Storm Janus hit us around 80 miles noontime and I recall it was low 20s F and only got up to this far. I am not sure what temp reading is that on the gauge. During summertime around 100 F, I get a reading on the last white bar or a few hairlines past it on stop and go traffic

Uncle Enzo · Uncle Enzo's Garage

I use an infrared to measure my temps when I am not so sure. After driving for roughly an hour and a half in 15F temps, I never hit 170 and I was driving her hard.

GH85Carrera · GH85Carrera's Garage

OK, so the temp is 100% normal. I kinda figured as much but I just wanted to be sure.

This weekend we are supposed to be back into the 60s.

I will for sure get it warm enough to get the front cooler working.

theiceman · 01-24-2014, 05:46 AM

gonna be -24C here .. brr....

T77911S · 01-24-2014, 05:59 AM

my 930 did not get much above 120 this morning with a 20-30 minute drive. even though i have 2 external oil coolers, the T stats should be closed. but, there is still a LOT of oil that has to get warm.

neilschelly · 01-26-2014, 03:29 AM

Same here - seems normal to me. The cars are designed to keep cool for endurance races in high heat under extreme use, so it stands to reason that they may struggle to come up to temp in such cold temperatures. I drive my car every day, and if the temp is under 20F, I don't expect to pass the first marker on the stock gauge.
-N