I'm just wondering if there's anything I should look out for as far as tuning and everything is concerned for winter driving. I know to switch to a lighter weight oil. I'm currently running a rising rate fpr setup (hahn racecraft stage two smic). Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Don't drive ... park it in the garage and get a beater!

Insulate the water pipes in your garage?



I totally agree on the beater.
1) You can buy one for the price of the deductible on your insurance.
2) It will make your insurance go DOWN due to multiple car discount and the fact that it is now your "daily driver"
3) You won't be wasting your time rebuilding the body next spring

fill it with gas, use a bottle of sta-bil, stick it in a garage, cover it, and pick it up in 4.5 months IMO

I like driving in the winter, just not when there is anything on the road... but i do agree on a beater for snowy/nasty days

Yeah, I saw the Iceclipse GSX firsthand. I think it's funny that picture wound up here. :P

Glad to see me idea is so well supported :thumbsup

My winter beater just got owned by a deer at 65. I know for the obvious reasons that I'd spin out like hell it would be bad but does any body have any reasons? I mean will it negatively affect the engine?

i wouldnt think so. put some good winter tread tires on (i used to use my 14" RS tires with some cooper winter treads on em). just dont use street tread in the winter, it SUCKS.

let your car warm up decently before you cruise around, especially if your engine is built (i let mine warm up every time i drive it).

boosting isnt going to effect the car, but maybe the control you have over it in the snow.

10w30 oil should be fine for the winter, thats what ive always used.

if it gets really salty, try to wash your car occasionally to help prevent degrading your paint finish/rusting.

dont let your gas get too low. condensation can form in the tank/lines. keep it full if you can.

um, all that and you should be fine i would think.

Thanks alot I have bridgestone blizzaks so I have no problems thanks for the tip on letting car warm up cause my car is about a week away from a built bottom end.

1. Check your battery and alt. Having a fresh battery and a somewhat net alt. will lower the chance that you won't be able to start it.

2. You won't need to worry about the mixture at all, since you have the stock ECU correcting for intake tempature.

3. Check your thermostat. If you have a 160 degree one, and it gets unreasonably cold in your area, you might want to stick the stock one back in so your heater gets nice and hot. Flushing the coolant system couldn't hurt, either.

4. The thinner weight oil thing kind of baffles me - I usually run Mobil 1 15W-50 through the whole year. I've never really had a problem in the winter starting up or running oil this thick. Yeah, the molasses pressure is pretty high when you first start the car up, but whatever. If anyone can give me a good theory/story/reason to use a thinner oil please let me know, I enjoy learning new things.

5. Two words - remote starter (AWESOME for getting the frost off of the car in the morning. Just remember to turn your heater on before you turn the car off the night before)

Right now I live in minneapolis but in december I moving to duluth where it's not uncommon for the temp to drop to like 20 to 30 below. I don't think I could live in minnesota without my remote start. I run 15w30 in the summer and I'm not sure for winter. I'm just thinking that I may not start on a day that's 20 below here with thicker oil but if I'm wrong please correct I'm by no means an expert on this topic hence the thread. Hell my n/a venge has a hard time starting with 5w30 here.

Originally posted by fastpunk
Right now I live in minneapolis but in december I moving to duluth where it's not uncommon for the temp to drop to like 20 to 30 below. I don't think I could live in minnesota without my remote start. I run 15w30 in the summer and I'm not sure for winter. I'm just thinking that I may not start on a day that's 20 below here with thicker oil but if I'm wrong please correct I'm by no means an expert on this topic hence the thread. Hell my n/a venge has a hard time starting with 5w30 here.

Haha i'm in minnesota too and i was just gonna say that i couldn't live without a garage spot and my remote start!! Best thing i ever bought in this damn state.

I think i am the only Eclipse in minnesota with out a remote start or a garage spot. Damn winter is not going to be fun.

Thinner oil will allow the engine to crank easier. I had 30w in my talon last winter and at +10 the engine did not want to crank. The oil in the oil pump for one does not want to move, that is only one contributing factor. Pistons trying to slide past oil molasses thick is not easy either. I use 5w30 year round. Nate i am sure you are looking for a more concrete answer i just really cant put it into words right now i guess.

at -0 degrees i have actually prayed the engine would fire as it barely moves. This is with conventional 30weight.

You could put a cup of 30w and 15w in the freezer to see the viscosity and how well it flows or doesnt, into a pan if you want a visual.

Terry

96 Eagle Talon ESI....Daily driver

97 Eclipse.........

Get a beater, I love my beater CRX!!!!

My beater has been fixed kinda hahahaha! It got owned by a deer at 65 it runs but has a cracked up windshield, dented up hood and missing a headlight.

hey Chef_clipse is that the Avic-N1 in your picture?

You're not the only Minnesotan without a remote start. But I've got a garage for my car. I won't do anything until it really starts to freeze a lot. The stuff that I do for the winters are:

1. Fill up gas tank & add fuel stabilizer.

2. Wash & wax the car.

3. Remove my rims, put them in my basement & put the car on stands. Kinda makes me wait until spring before I decide to drive her.

4. Remove the battery and put in the basement.

5. Put the car cover on, and jump in my Grand Cherokee until April.

Must be rough to live in the southern states where you can drive all year long.

CHECK YOUR BREATHER TUBES!

I know someone who had those freeze up on him. If the condensation freezes in there you could build ALLOT of pressure in the cranckcase.

Pop goes the seals

Originally posted by rgirard413
hey Chef_clipse is that the Avic-N1 in your picture?

No that is the Pioneer AVH-P7500DVD. I need to get the Avic-N1 hide away unit so i can have navigation. I have XM but my plans are getting a PS2 in my glove box, Navigation, and a key whole back up camera. With this sterio as soon as you put it in reverse the display switches to the camera. It was an awsome buy. I like it so much i put one in my car and my girls (Chick_clipse).

Originally posted by HeDog
You're not the only Minnesotan without a remote start. But I've got a garage for my car.

I didn't know you were in Minn. I always thought you had such a clean lookin car. Its a nice ride. Rochester is a nice town i have to go there a few times a year for the Mayo. Man there is alot more people on 2gnt from Minn than I thought. Next summer we should all go to the Mitsubishi cook out in the cities and have a 2gnt section.

The one thing I am doing for the winter is getting rid of my bald tires and gettin ones that will handle the snow. I want to stay out of the ditch.

I'll be at the all mitsu cookout again next year. I'm down for a 2gnt section if you guys consider me a 2gnt even though I have a avenger.

Originally posted by Chef_clipse
Man there is alot more people on 2gnt from Minn than I thought. Next summer we should all go to the Mitsubishi cook out in the cities and have a 2gnt section.

I was going to go to the cookout this year, but I was putting my turbo kit in at the time. Hopefully I can go next year & have my updated ICE in.

I also live about 3 blocks from Mayo Clinic.

I have a question here!

How long will it take to warm up a car?
As I don't have a serie of meters on the dash.....

if I just look at the RMP, and the oil temperature. is it possible to wait for the oil temperature to raise to the point which is about little less than half of the meter?

thanks!