I just moved here in Ottawa and had my first cold spell of weather in my 06 SS/SC. It was slow to turn over in the morning but the car did start. I don't know how bad this is on the car especially if its only going to get colder. What are certain ways to winterize your car? Do these cars come stock with block heaters? Is it nescessary to use a block heater? What are other SS/SC drivers doing to protect your car from Old Man winter?

 

Even when you have a block heater you should always have a warm up period. Never redline your car until well after you reach operating temperatures and really in the kind of temperatures you experience up there you may want to let it run 4-5 minutes before you drive it.

 

Ummm let it warm up for a few min..depending on how cold it is. check your fluids,especially ur oil. i have seen what happens in cold weather and no oil can do. and i don't know what oil u use but i got MOBIL 1 and it is awesome. just my $.02

 

Yes! do let it warm up for a few mins if you can or if you can't don't redline right away....

Check your fluid levels more than you usually do like oil, anti-freeze/engine coolant, and I usually use more windshield washer fluid during the winters from all the salt and dirt that gets kicked up... check that too!

Also check your Intercooler's engine coolant levels and the hose attachments....

 

cool cool but how cold does it get down in Michigan?

 

usually the coldest is around 0. it's like 25ish right now. Either way, you should let the car run up to operating temps before driving.

 

It was FRIGID yesterday AM... below zero. It took 2 cranks to start up. It turned over slowly, caught but sputtered and died. Second time it fired up...

If it's below 32* I usually let it warm up for a few minutes before driving. If it's 32-50*F I usually let it run for a minute and then just drive slow until it gets up to temp.

 

my car does pretty good in the cold. except for a horrid knocking noise coming front the motor mount area when i shift. sounds like metal smacking metal. i think its my ingalls. doesnt do it when its not cold out

 

What temp do you guys let it warm up to before taking off? Im pretty new to this winter thing being from Vegas and now in Indiana.. Its been in the 20s last few days and car is usually around 30 degrees at start up. I usually wait till about 45 before I take off. Then turn the heat up around 70 to 80 and then crank it at around 110.

 

Your 06 should have a block heater. In 2007 it became an option.

Use the block heater and it should turn over the first time every morning. I used a block heater in Ottawa visiting my gf (now wife). It was -40C with the windchill (yes -40C). The car still turned over on the first try with the block heater plugged in.

 

while my car is warming up i let the heat blast wide open. usually have to for defrost.

i usually drive off around 100*F

 

I usually let my car idle for at least a minute or two, then take it real easy till the temp reaches 100F. You should never drive your car hard until the tempurature reaches 150F as this is when oil actually begins to reach its best protection.

Pour points for most synthetics are around -40C, Mobil 1 5w30 is -48C, which means it would have to be pretty damn cold before the oil got to the point where it began to gel. If the temps get anywhere near -40 (-40C or -40F - they are the same) it is probably a good idea to have a block heater though.