Winter Driving? [Merged 12-6]

[TalonRacer024]

Ok after reading tons of posts about winter beaters and the such i am have come to a question. Is it bad to run your car in the winter? And if so why?

 

[VicBoost]

Personally , i d advise you to go find some used 15'... or maybe even all season tires on steelies.., it does the job pretty well...
but 18s on summer tires.....if it get s really harsh, that s almost asking for troubles

But these tires are all season tires.......

 

[tallywacker]

Yeah my FWD talon drives great in the snow, those yokahoma AVS ES 100's are a 30 mph white knuckled thrill ride.

 

[4BangR-x]

But these tires are all season tires.......

Why the hell would you want 18 in wheels for your damn winter tires? You want the skinniest tire possible, get stock wheels, and put snow tires on them. Done.

 

[L2RTSiAWD]

What's winter?

 

[VicBoost]

What's winter?

I HATE YOU...

 

[talonproject]

LoL, u guys are lucky cause you don thave demolished roads like we do have here.
Almost very streets is demolished here
Roads here are so bad, that, I swear, (i ll get the link if u want) An AIRplane got stuck in a pot-hole at local airport !!!
I have to change ball joints and stuff like every 6 months

And when they do repair them, (potholes), they make sure that it s gonna break again in 2-3 years....so they can get paid to doit again......

It s pretty bad here.....one day I m gonna have to take a video so you guys can see how lucky you are to have smooth and comfortable roads...

 

[konicom]

What's winter?

.... good one.....

 

[konicom]

LoL, u guys are lucky cause you don thave demolished roads like we do have here.
Almost very streets is demolished here
Roads here are so bad, that, I swear, (i ll get the link if u want) An AIRplane got stuck in a pot-hole at local airport !!!
I have to change ball joints and stuff like every 6 months

And when they do repair them, (potholes), they make sure that it s gonna break again in 2-3 years....so they can get paid to doit again......

It s pretty bad here.....one day I m gonna have to take a video so you guys can see how lucky you are to have smooth and comfortable roads...

smooth comfortable roads??? - come to chicago......
When roads are bad - thats exactly when you need lots of snow......the thrill of driving 80 down the road you're normally doing 30 dodging all the pot holes

 

[irish_love]

What's winter?

Ditto

 

[tstkl]

If any AWD people say no, I'm gona kick them in the nuts. The snow is where its at!

I can say I really don't enjoy commuting in my car in the winter. It handles like trash (probably because I run my BFG G-Forces all year ) and I hate driving with the windows up, its loud and smelly. But snow-x events and storms when no one else is on the road....

kick me in the nuts then..... I live in california, so sue me. I don't drive my car in the rain, and I wouldn't drive it in the snow if there was snow here, but I don't have to worry about that anyways. I just got this thing repainted and shit, Im to paranoid about my shit...

 

[mitsuclipsegsx]

nope,i take mine off the road, way to much salt around here.

 

[leet]

The only snow we get around here is expensive.

 

[4BangR-x]

CrackHead ULEH

 

[Matthew Daize]

Does anyone drive their Turbo DSM in the winter?

Its not quite the dead of winter yet, and I have noticed some really horrible things so far which with my luck, is isolated to myself...

Unless the car has been sitting idling until the heat gauge reads near the middle between Cold and Hot (which usually takes around 25-30 minutes running time), the car runs like absolute crap. The car hesitates and actually slows down if i accelerate after ~2000-2500 rpms. Changing gears, going into 2nd or third makes a very loud clunking noise, even if the clutch is to the floor... doesn't change if I try Double Clutching. As well, it makes a >very< loud ticking noise. Trying to get the idle around 2000rpms just makes the car squeal as well as making the ticking noise tick faster and faster.

I really have no idea where to start looking for a fix. Once the car warms up the car drives fine aside from the squealing and that tick (except quite a lot, quiter).

I know I am only running ~5-6lbs boost due to a leak somewhere (which I am going to find out soon) but I doubt that could be directly related to the issues, unless people think otherwise?

Any ideas?
Matthew Daize

 

[xveganxcowboyx]

Leaks make everything go wonky. Fix them and I bet it runs much better. I delivered pizzas with mine in Montana winter and drove it through Minnesota winter. Matter of fact, the cold air makes it even quicker.

 

[Racer_X]

Never expect a turbo-charged car to run "great" until it's up to operating temp, hell, that goes for any car actually.... I am new to the Mitsu turbos, used to my ole CT-26 BTW, there is no reason to "double-clutch" (Unless you're a huge Vin Diesel fan....) Most modern cars are equipped with devices called synchronizers that help to synchronize the speed of the gearbox with that of the engine. This effectively eliminates the need for double clutching. Some large trucks on the other hand have so many gears that synchronizers are inefficient, while race cars can squeeze out more power without them, making double clutching a fact of life.

 

[jjsacidy]

Yes, I do. Like they said the cold air can be freaking sweet. AWD is very nice if you have it. It seems like every freaking thing will start leaking but a lot of times is easier to see because of steam or exhaust. Working on them in the cold is a sick joke. Take it easy on the car until it warms up, seriously.

 

[KBasham03]

first find a warm garage and get that boost leak taken care of, and yes boost leaks can make your car run pretty ill. Then I would check your coolant temp sensor (30 min seems a little bit long to warm up), and coolant level. As far as the squeal I would check the tension on all of your belts. As far as tick goes, its probably the infamous 4g63 lifter tick. If its really bad take off your valve cover and check all of the lifters. If any of them are "mushy" replace all of them with oem 3g lifters, or some people call them lash adjusters. I also drive my car in the winter, but resist the temptation to beat on your car in the cold weather and refrain from doing those awd donuts . I know theyre so fun but just say no. Theres a start, hope it helps.

 

[xveganxcowboyx]

I should have mentioned the temerature issue as well. Replace your thermostat. 30 minutes is a very long time. Might as well start with the most likely culprit.

Add some sea foam to your oil and drive a bit. Then change it with some thin synthetic. That may help the lifter tick. (It may be giving you false knock and retarding timing)

Of course the boost leak is still your biggest issue by far.

 

[Matthew Daize]

Thanks for all the input guys!

I will be getting my boost leak fixed probably early-mid next week, so i'll let you know how it goes!

As for the whole temperature dealies...

I just replaced my thermostat cause my temp gauge was going all the way to hot, and then all the coolent came out the overflow, and yet my rad fan would never turn on.

Replaced the thermostat, and now it works fine...

As for why its not warming up in any less then ~25-30minutes, i really have no idea, but it seems only untill it hits about middle on the gauge does it actually run alright.

As for the seafoam, is there anywhere online that I can get it really cheap? or would it be better to goto my local shop and see if they have any?

Matt

 

[xveganxcowboyx]

Your local shop should carry it for about $6 US per can. Half in the oil, half into a Throttle Body port and you'll be good to go.

 

[WeaselHack]

resist the temptation to beat on your car in the cold weather and refrain from doing those awd donuts . I know theyre so fun but just say no. Theres a start, hope it helps.

Why do you say avoid the AWD donuts? Im out in the local abandoned parking lot every time it snows perfecting my snow drifting skills

 

[KBasham03]

Why do you say avoid the AWD donuts? Im out in the local abandoned parking lot every time it snows perfecting my snow drifting skills

me too but shhhh!!! Im trying to be a good influence.

 

[akdsmer]

If you didn't put in a factory t-stat that may be your problem. Last couple weeks has seen our temps -10 to -20 below in the mornings and My car is at the first mark on the temperature guage in 2 miles. Mile 4 has it just shy of operating temperature. At -20 outside, I run my autostarter for 15 minutes, when I get out there-before the 15 minute timer shuts it off- the interior is nice and warm, heater is at operating temperature and all is good. At -40 below, the temperature is not so nice and warm inside, but it is at operating temperature, but it takes more time to warm up all the crap in the car.

Best heating car I have owned (and I've owned plenty).

Upgrading the lifters and running a quality 5w30 (or even 0w30-40) and I have no lifter noise until it's REALLY cold (and then I'm just happy that it's running )

When your doing a donut, doesn't that mean you need more practice at drifting?

Don't dump the half of mystery oil into the TB at one time, use a hose and suck it in slowly! (just in case.....) I have used this as well to take care of lifter ticking, but most of my DSMs have just gotten new lifters. It's easy enough.

 

[slipstream808]

At -40 below, the temperature is not so nice and warm inside, but it is at operating temperature, but it takes more time to warm up all the crap in the car.

-40 BELOW!! WTF

That's nuckin' futs!! I mean, the intake temps must be crazy. And intercooler efficiency... HA!! You'd take forever to heatsoak!!