Who had the coldest start during the vortex?

**Paulbob** · 02-10-2019, 12:53 PM

Sounds like Rustbucket hit -33F. I started two Fiats, '12 Sport and '14 500L, in my driveway in downtown Madison with temperature displays sitting at -27F.

From the owners manual I was under the impression that the starter would be disabled at temperatures below -22F unless the ECM saw a higher coolant temperature resulting from an engine heater.

I had some bottles of quality synthetic oils out in the driveway on the two cold mornings of the vortex and the 10w30 was like honey that had been in the refrigerator!

Paul

**Southernroadrunner** · 02-10-2019, 01:24 PM

So in the -27 -33 temps you guys got them to light up so you could drive. Thats great to know.

**rustbucket** · 02-10-2019, 03:50 PM

It was definitely brutal. I stayed home the first day ... I wasn't so worried about the first start of the day (unheated garage) but later on at work after sitting outside all day. Went in the next day (work as a temp and you basically have to be deceased before they give you an excused absence) .... -26F in the garage. Fired right off but a lot of squawking and complaining till it warmed up ...the shift lever didn't want to move. Waited until I got two bars on the temp and slowly drove off. Used to think an unheated garage didn't make much difference in cold starts but weather like this proves me wrong every time... The temp dropped to -33F after backing out of the garage and hovered between -32F and -34F on the 25 mile trip in. Was comfy enough ... Had the ATC maxed out and the heated seats got a workout. Worst part was the ride ... I thought I was in an oxcart ... think the fluid in the shocks and struts was just about frozen solid. Did start when I left work but it turned over slowly. We had a heat wave during the day, it warmed up to -18F. If it had stayed as cold as it was during the A.M. I don't think it would have started.

Thing I don't understand is why all 500's sold in this neck of the woods don't come with the block heated installed from the factory ... $50 option iirc ... $300+ if you have the studio install it.

**Paulbob** · 02-11-2019, 12:22 AM

Yep, and when you open the door to sit on the seats in those temps they are hard as a rock. The suspension is too, such that the car feels like it has no springs or shocks.

I should really put a couple of block heaters on these cars because I think the engine wear in those temps must be pretty extreme but this type of weather (below minus 20F) comes along once every 25 years or so. Probably not worth the effort.

**neubauerjoseph** · 02-11-2019, 03:45 AM

My brother in northern MN, had -51F but he is a manager at clothing store, and the district manager asked him if they would open, he closed it because he said a few employees got stuck, and most who were supposed to work said “ oh hell no I am not going out in that cold �� weather. “ but he said most people expect for EMS, stayed home. His friend who lives in the big city said the gangs didn’t murder anyone. I can see why it was really cold. But perhaps the engine block heater would come in handy. I also wonder how much winter tires come in handy vs the as3 plus?