Topic: What did you do to your car today?

[blur911]

Cars are expected to start in -20C. If they didn't then day to day life in the Prairies would grind to a halt. All cars should be able to handle -20 with no special treatment. At -30 is when things begin to change although I still expect a non plugged vehicle to crank slow but start at -30. At -35 and below all bets are off, that is truly the temp when things get nasty.

I agree, but around here temps might only get into the -20's a couple days a year (or some years not at all) so batteries are not stress tested as often, people don't use fuel line anti-freeze, etc. So when it does get in the -20s, stuff breaks. My FIL's F-150 wouldn't start, 8 year old original battery, 3 neighbors had similar issues. Bottom line, people and their vehicles here are not well equipped for extreme cold.

I blame Motomaster batteries 

[Ex-airbalancer]

I guess I should hit the remote start on the truck, it has been sitting since Dec 4

[mlin32]

Brake fluid changed today, pedal feels notably firmer. Yay !

As for the damage done by my mother, the shop needs more time to compile a final estimate of all the parts. At minimum,  new struts, control arm, and hub. "I would look into claiming insurance" was his response. Looks like the 3er is gonna get a refreshed front end....

[Arthur Dent]

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New shocks for the Pontiac. The old ones were are not in bad shape but they are old (late 70s) so worth replacing.



One new shock at the front. Cold outside (-30C) and not much warmer in the garage so I need to do the other one tomorrow. Then the rear shocks.

[tenpenny]

Got a call at 5am, daughter said the Explorer wouldn’t start.  So I went in wife’s forester over to her workplace, found battery was dead, boosted it, started fine.  Gas gauge said empty, 0km to empty on the dash readout, so I went to the gas station 100m up the road. Put $20 in it, boosted it again, drove home, gauge showed 3/4 tank.  So obviously it wasn’t empty, the gauge was fooled by the low battery or the cold.  I pumped gas at -20 for no reason.  Now I have to figure out why the battery died.  It’s only -16, so that’s somewhat better.


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[rrocket]

Got a call at 5am, daughter said the Explorer wouldn’t start.  So I went in wife’s forester over to her workplace, found battery was dead, boosted it, started fine.  Gas gauge said empty, 0km to empty on the dash readout, so I went to the gas station 100m up the road. Put $20 in it, boosted it again, drove home, gauge showed 3/4 tank.  So obviously it wasn’t empty, the gauge was fooled by the low battery or the cold.  I pumped gas at -20 for no reason.  Now I have to figure out why the battery died.  It’s only -16, so that’s somewhat better.


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I bet your nuts weren't fooled by the cold when you were pumping gas! LOL

[tenpenny]

They’ll recover by next week, I think!


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[2JDM]

Checked the oil for the 1er. It is at 1/2 level but the electronic readout still reads "OK".

The car has lost about 1/2 since early December. There are no leaks from what I can see underneath the hood and ground, coolant looks good with no weird colours.

I'm gonna buy 1L or so of oil and top up, but is this a major concern??? Car is 7 years old with 97 km. 

[Angry Chicken]

Checked the oil for the 1er. It is at 1/2 level but the electronic readout still reads "OK".

The car has lost about 1/2 since early December. There are no leaks from what I can see underneath the hood and ground, coolant looks good with no weird colours.

I'm gonna buy 1L or so of oil and top up, but is this a major concern??? Car is 7 years old with 97 km. 

How many km did you travel in that period? It’s quite possible to consume 1/2 a litre or so between scheduled oil changes and stay within manufacturer specifications.

[2JDM]

Checked the oil for the 1er. It is at 1/2 level but the electronic readout still reads "OK".

The car has lost about 1/2 since early December. There are no leaks from what I can see underneath the hood and ground, coolant looks good with no weird colours.

I'm gonna buy 1L or so of oil and top up, but is this a major concern??? Car is 7 years old with 97 km. 

How many km did you travel in that period? It’s quite possible to consume 1/2 a litre or so between scheduled oil changes and stay within manufacturer specifications.

Roughly 2000 km. It was about 3/4 on Friday (same level all month), then I checked today and its at 1/2.

It was parked outside all week in the frigid temperatures we've had in Ontario. This morning's cold start sounded rough but it started. Does cold weather have to do with oil consumption?

[Gurgie]

Checked the oil for the 1er. It is at 1/2 level but the electronic readout still reads "OK".

The car has lost about 1/2 since early December. There are no leaks from what I can see underneath the hood and ground, coolant looks good with no weird colours.

I'm gonna buy 1L or so of oil and top up, but is this a major concern??? Car is 7 years old with 97 km. 

That's weird! Could be burning some, but you'd see some blue smoke you'd figure. The car does have a belly pan under the engine tho, oil could be pooling on it. I'd check around the oil filter housing for leaks, as well as the valve cover gasket.

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[Angry Chicken]

Checked the oil for the 1er. It is at 1/2 level but the electronic readout still reads "OK".

The car has lost about 1/2 since early December. There are no leaks from what I can see underneath the hood and ground, coolant looks good with no weird colours.

I'm gonna buy 1L or so of oil and top up, but is this a major concern??? Car is 7 years old with 97 km. 

How many km did you travel in that period? It’s quite possible to consume 1/2 a litre or so between scheduled oil changes and stay within manufacturer specifications.

Roughly 2000 km. It was about 3/4 on Friday (same level all month), then I checked today and its at 1/2.

It was parked outside all week in the frigid temperatures we've had in Ontario. This morning's cold start sounded rough but it started. Does cold weather have to do with oil consumption?

How many millilitres between 3/4 and 1/2 on the stick? If ~250, then I wouldn’t worry about it and yes, it can be exacerbated by the cold temperatures.

[mlin32]

Checked the oil for the 1er. It is at 1/2 level but the electronic readout still reads "OK".

The car has lost about 1/2 since early December. There are no leaks from what I can see underneath the hood and ground, coolant looks good with no weird colours.

I'm gonna buy 1L or so of oil and top up, but is this a major concern??? Car is 7 years old with 97 km. 

How many km did you travel in that period? It’s quite possible to consume 1/2 a litre or so between scheduled oil changes and stay within manufacturer specifications.

Roughly 2000 km. It was about 3/4 on Friday (same level all month), then I checked today and its at 1/2.

It was parked outside all week in the frigid temperatures we've had in Ontario. This morning's cold start sounded rough but it started. Does cold weather have to do with oil consumption?

That's fine, but I would continue to monitor. Leaks aren't easily identifiable cuz the belly pan is quite substantial. Otherwise, oil filter housing gasket comes to mind.....

[BWII]

Checked the oil for the 1er. It is at 1/2 level but the electronic readout still reads "OK".

The car has lost about 1/2 since early December. There are no leaks from what I can see underneath the hood and ground, coolant looks good with no weird colours.

I'm gonna buy 1L or so of oil and top up, but is this a major concern??? Car is 7 years old with 97 km. 

How many km did you travel in that period? It’s quite possible to consume 1/2 a litre or so between scheduled oil changes and stay within manufacturer specifications.

Roughly 2000 km. It was about 3/4 on Friday (same level all month), then I checked today and its at 1/2.

It was parked outside all week in the frigid temperatures we've had in Ontario. This morning's cold start sounded rough but it started. Does cold weather have to do with oil consumption?

Well it is FGC, right? 


My car has been sitting outside since Friday.  -28's at night. Only -16-18 this afternoon.  Not plugged in.  Wouldn't start.     C'mon!!  Had to boost it.  Unbelievable.  Didn't think that would happen at -16ish.

[2JDM]

Checked the oil for the 1er. It is at 1/2 level but the electronic readout still reads "OK".

The car has lost about 1/2 since early December. There are no leaks from what I can see underneath the hood and ground, coolant looks good with no weird colours.

I'm gonna buy 1L or so of oil and top up, but is this a major concern??? Car is 7 years old with 97 km. 

How many km did you travel in that period? It’s quite possible to consume 1/2 a litre or so between scheduled oil changes and stay within manufacturer specifications.

Roughly 2000 km. It was about 3/4 on Friday (same level all month), then I checked today and its at 1/2.

It was parked outside all week in the frigid temperatures we've had in Ontario. This morning's cold start sounded rough but it started. Does cold weather have to do with oil consumption?

How many millilitres between 3/4 and 1/2 on the stick? If ~250, then I wouldn’t worry about it and yes, it can be exacerbated by the cold temperatures.

Dry around the valve cover gasket and oil filter housing (based on my under the hood visual inspection). Not sure how I can check the under belly plastic cover without lifting the car up...

Yes I believe its 250 mL between 3/4 and 1/2, so I'm missing about 500 mL total. "Low" indicator means 1 L needs to be added.

Also another note: I took the car to the touchless wash tonight (-21C) after my 401 salt brine journey. I had the blower fan on full blast to ensure my windows would be clear.

Within minutes of leaving the car wash, the blower fan makes this loud ice breaking noise. Luckily I'm < 5 mins away from home, and I parked inside the garage (12C). I check on it a few hours later and the noise is gone. My guess is water somehow got inside and froze, causing the noise.  Hopefully nothing is broken.

[tortoise]

If you checked the oil when it was warm the first time and cold the second time that might account for the difference.

[Angry Chicken]

Low WW fluid warning was coming on at ~ -20C in the A4 even with a full reservoir. Added a pinch of salt. Light goes out. #blindedmewithscience

Clue: apparently cheap blue WW fluid is more conductive than the good stuff.

[2JDM]

If you checked the oil when it was warm the first time and cold the second time that might account for the difference.

Checked it while warm both times.

A tad chilly this morning in the nation's capital.

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[2JDM]

Low WW fluid warning was coming on at ~ -20C in the A4 even with a full reservoir. Added a pinch of salt. Light goes out. #blindedmewithscience

Clue: apparently cheap blue WW fluid is more conductive than the good stuff.

Hmm so that's how the sensor works?

My WW fluid also lit last week, but it took an entire jug of fluid!

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[mlin32]

Low WW fluid warning was coming on at ~ -20C in the A4 even with a full reservoir. Added a pinch of salt. Light goes out. #blindedmewithscience

Clue: apparently cheap blue WW fluid is more conductive than the good stuff.

Hmm so that's how the sensor works?

My WW fluid also lit last week, but it took an entire jug of fluid!

That makes sense. On my BMW E90 3er with headlamp washers, the capacity is 6,5 litres.