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My $0.02 (Long...sorry) Posted by PGAero [Email] ![]() ![]() In Reply to: EMERGENCY - car overheating in -12 weather! -long, gavin, Mon, 24 Jan 2005 08:53:02 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
Here's my thoughts. It sounds like there's some areas in the coolant system that are frozen or, at least, gelled-up a bit. The fact that your heat didn't blow warm until the car had warmed up a lot makes me think that the heater core wasn't flowing until the coolant loosed. Coolant can be totally fine in sub-freezing temps even if it's been diluted in the past year(s!) with water...but when you get to -10, you need to have a coolant/water mixture that is capable of remaining fluid at these temps. Perhaps the radiator and/or heater core are far enough from the engine that it takes a LONG time for them to fluidize if you have even partial freezing....and if you drive the car without warming it up, then the radiator will never fluidize because you have -10deg air blowing over it.
That's my theory. Check your coolant reservoir before you cold start your car in those temps...and maybe remove some coolant from the car and replace it with undiluted coolant to insure a proper ratio.
I would try to get the car sometime before the temp falls back down, and let it warm up plenty.
I see some cars around here (Bozeman MT) with cardboard over their grilles to prevent -20 air from crossing the radiator...thereby allowing the coolant to work at a more reasonable temp...and sooner. (it's in the 50's here this last week, but last weekend my car's temp gauge said -18)
Hope this helps. IT's only my hunch. My cars ACC can take long time to blow warm air on really cold mornings, and once its temp gauge ran up to about 10 o'clock before it quickly fell to 7:30. (I think my coolant broke-up at that point.)
Hope it all works out for you!
~Peter
'93 Aero, 5spd, 62K
posted by 153.90.198...
_______________________________________ Current: '03 9-5 Aero Wagon, 5spd, Polar/Black Past: '06 9-5 Combi, AT, Polar/Black '04 9-5 Aero Wagon, AT, Nocturne/Granite '03 9-5 Aero Wagon, AT, Steel/Charcoal '00 9-3 Viggen, 5D, Silver/Black '93 9000 Aero, 5MT, Cirrus/Black (Owned this one twice) '86 900 SPG, 5MT, Edwardian/Buffalo Grey
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