Subzero temperature starting.

[Ed Kellock]

This is what I do.  If it's really cold I will sit for just a little longer
warmup, but I usually get in, start the car, put on my seat belt, fiddle
with whatever else needs it, check he mirrors, turn on the radio, and then
take of very slowly and gently.  Total time spent idling is almost never
more than a minute and usually less than 30 seconds.  In that last two days
however with -10 and -5, I did let it idle until the climate control blower
came on.  This is a fairly random interval however because I'm talking about
two cars from 1990 and 1991.  The blower in the 93 V8 comes on sooner
because it's a different system.  IIRC, the subject car is an A4 which has a
whole 'nother system.

Ed

-----Original Message-----
From: quattro-bounces at audifans.com [mailto:quattro-bounces at audifans.com] On
Behalf Of Grant Lenahan
Sent: Thursday, December 10, 2009 5:41 AM
To: Danton J.A. Cardoso
Cc: quattro at audifans.com
Subject: Re: Subzero temperature starting.


drive off nearly immediately, using low revs and a light throttle.

If you leave it idling, it warms up far more slowly, all the time 
running rich and dumping gas effectively down the cylinders and into the 
oil.

This way it warms up more quickly.

Your instincts to be very light on throttle and revs are good!

Grant

Danton J.A. Cardoso wrote:
> Overnight tonight here in NE Missouri it is going to be around -5 or 
> lesser for the temperature.  Unfortunately, my A4 is parked outside, 
> but at least it is under a carport.  The starting ritual I do in 
> temperatures like this is shove the clutch in, hit the gas a 1/4 way 
> and fire it up.  Now, I know the traditional way is wait a few 
> seconds, and drive off, which I do shifting at 2000 rpm.  However, in 
> the past there are times I have had let it idle for about 10-15 
> minutes, or until the water temperature gauge is reading two or three 
> notches above cold, or even to normal temperature.  Should I do this, 
> or do the drive off the traditional way?  108K on the odometer Castrol 
> Syn-blend in the crankcase, 5W30.
>
> Thanks,
>
>   
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