Engine warming for cold weather
 

I have been having the typical cold starting problems with my '92.
I believe it to be the injectors freezing and only when the weather is below 30F and humidity is high - Fog and such.
Is there any type of engine warmers for the SVX I could use to keep the area near the injectors warm enough to start with ease?

Any ideas, suggestions, tips?

Thanks,
Mark

you may want to replace your coolant temp sensor.

mike

Re: Engine warming for cold weather
 

What are the "typical" cold start problems in an SVX, just out of curiosity?

With a faulty coolant sensor the engine fans will be on even when the engine is cold. The engine barely starts and when it does it has no high idle. For some reason it seems to also lurch and stall when you put it into gear when it's cold.

The coolant sensor is ok

The symptoms i'm having are:
Starter cranks with normal full power
Engine does not fire unless accelorator is depressed and engine cranked for approx 20-30 seconds.

When started first time after sitting in cold for over 5 hours
engine runs as if only a few cylinders are firing until engine runs for about 2-5 minutes then runs smooth with no hesitation or adverse problems.
Once warmed up it starts fine no hesitation.

I am looking specificly for something to maintain the temperature around the top engine area to prevent any condensation freezing around the injectors.

I know they have a block heater - oil warmer, but are there any other accesories or chemicals to be used with gasoline that would help prevent the freezing in the injectors? any make-shift ideas?

It does sound like the coolant temp sensor to me. Can you get some gas-line antifreeze (isopropyl) to see if that helps?

I'm starting mine at near 0°F temperatures without plugging it in.

it's VERY COLD in Mass......
 

We've had wind chills in the -30's lately and my SVX starts up, although a little slow (my 94 SVX....the one without the engine warmer). If you wanted to keep the top of your engine warm you could always throw some of those chemical hand warmer packets under your hood. Of course, you'll want to remove those before you start the car the next day.......

Actually, you could buy a battery warmer from your local Suby dealer and lay it out flat on your engine.




Dave

Re: it's VERY COLD in Mass......
 

Wind chills mean little to cars. To get a more accurate description of your car's operation, please tell us the actual temperature. :)

Re: it's VERY COLD in Mass......
 

And I don't know that this would help at all. I think the only way it would do any good is if you somehow fastened it to your oil pan. Laying it on top of the intake plenum won't do a thing, and it would take some doing to stuff it under the plenum, directly onto the block. :)

cold
 

Have you run any gas dryer/antifreeze thru your car lately? Fuel injectors don't like ice crystals. I run 2 cans per year in mine, at the same time. If water is in there it may run ratty for a tankful.

Starting
 

Hi Mark, Buy a couple of cantainers of "Dry Gas" and put them in before you fill up. If you can find Gasahol, fill up once a month after that in the winter. Also be sure to us at least 91 cotane gas of good quality. Not brand X gas.That octane may not exist in your area. You might get away with that in the summer, but not in super cold weather. You are also at a higher altitude than most of us, so that would be a factor as well. Have your plugs been replaced? If you have over 100,000 miles on your car with original plugs it might be time to replace them. Many have posted that they changed plugs at 100,000 miles plus and the old plugs looked like new. But they also have reported that performance improved with new plugs. So appearances can confuse you. Hope you problem goes away. Take care, BOBB

I'M SARCASTIC
 

My comments were meant more as a joke than anything.....come on now....HAND WARMERS??? That's supposed to be funny! Some of you read too deeply into what is posted........:)




Dave

p.s. Really hot water keeps engines from getting cold too.