[V8] Re: cold weather killing gas mileage (AHA!!!)

[Kneale Brownson]

Last summer I replaced all the plumbing in the engine compartment of my
200q20v, including new thermostat and two new radiators.  This winter, once
the engine warmed up,  the temp gauge had the same setting (about the width
of the indicator above the heavy mark that's maybe a third of the way
between C & H--the gauge has no numbers) regardless of outside temperature.
 I drove 120 miles a day all winter,  frequently at early-morning
temperatures well below Zero F.  Had the same readings a couple weeks ago
when we drove in 70-80 degree temperatures returning from Colorado to
Michigan.  Again, everything in the cooling system except the engine itself
and the heater core is new.

At 03:26 PM 5/2/2005 -0500, Tony and Lillie wrote:
>As much as I'd like to agree with teh "theory", I've never seen a car that 
>warms up the same when it's 40 below and it's driven on the highway. The 
>theory of the thermostat is that it should keep the engine at the same 
>opperating temp all the time. That doesn't hold true in cold weather, 
>though. I worked at a repair shop for 3 1/2 years, never saw it. I also 
>worked at at dealership from '95-'98, and even brand new cars (Audi's, 
>Subie's, Jeeps, etc) didn't warm up the same on the highway.
>
>I'm really hoping someone out there can explain why this is, because I have 
>no technical explination of this at all. It has never made sense to me, but 
>I know it to be true.
>