My 24 year old son is coming down for Thanksgiving. I have had this car for over 10 years. Every time he has come down we have not been able to go for a ride in the chevelle. This year the temp will only be in the 30's the roads will be dry and clear. I have heard that hard pulls on a turbo car are not good in cold weather. So that begs the question of how cold is too cold and why? I'm not wanting to go out and WOT from zero to 150mph or nothing. Even cold streets are slick. I just want to take him out and get on it a few times from a 30 mile roll and a high gear pull or two for a couple seconds. I don't want to hurt the engine, the car, or us but I would like to finally give him a chance to ride in the car and feel some boost.

So what's the deal with cold weather being hard on turbo's?

 

The cold is good for boost , less chance of det. the reason cold is ok is cause when you are compressing the air it gets hot, so the cold air helps keep that cooler. just make sure your engine is up to temp. just think of it this way if cold air wasn't good for boost then all those diesels wouldn't be running around it the snow.

 

It will be fun, even faster actually just watch the tune if you really get on it as obviously the air has changed so will the afr's a little

 

Colder air is more dense, which means the turbo will make more power. The danger is running lean.

 

Ok good to know. I had just heard of so many people posting horror stories of doing high gear pulls when it was cold. It was probably because they got it to lean. That makes sense. Thanks.

 

I'd be more concerned about traction than anything systemically from the motor. As people said, let it get up to temp and do some low boost pulls. I'd be more concentrated on traction then watching for KR.

 

Its too cold when you can't ever get traction. Otherwise....boost on.

 

During winter I usually turn the boost down a couple psi crank on the auto-tune and let it rip.

 

Yeah just turn the boost down and have fun, it's not going to hook on higher boost levels on cold streets anyways.

 

Cold weather is the turbo weather.
NWS

 

the reason for the wording "cold is bad for turbo" likely comes from TUNES/CALIBRATIONS that don't have feedback to account for the colder more dense air

IF compensation is made by the PCM (fuel trims, IAT sensor feedback with proper fuel adders per temperature) then you are golden.

 

On E85, if there isn no breaking up, add a couple more psi (when engine runs richer with e70)

 

Mine runs a couple tenths leaner in the cold. 11.0 normal 50-80 degree weather and 11.2 in 30-30 degree weather. That's an average. But usually doesn't change that much when engine is a full operating temp. Around 180 degrees.

 

You've had that car for 10+ years and never run it in cold air?

 

Love EGO control. Could be 20* or 120* outside and I still have rockstar AFs

 

Can you tell me more about this EGO, and autotune?? Is it in HPTuners?

 

right about the same time its impossible to get traction, lol.

 

I've put the beast to my truck In Co with temps around zero lol
Just be sure you are running thin synthetic oil and everything is up to temp. Cold thick oil will smoke a turbo in no time.

 

I do. Thanks.

The first 5 years we were restoring it. Then went through 5 big blocks that blew up over the next 3 years. Last year was first year of boost but ran onky 10lbs. So this is the first year of running 20lbs plus so wanted to make sure I didn't do anything stupid.

 

That's a classic vid I've had for years.... That stupid **** talking all that **** then gets beat by a stock 6 spd formula on the street... LOL

I did love the GN and hated to see it lose.

"I'm Kenne Belllll"..... LOL


Del, put the wood to the Chevelle... It will be fine.... Just don't wrack on it with a cold engine/oil... All my turbo stuff always ran a ton better in cold air.... Keep an eye on the afr the first pass and make sure the EFI is doing what it should be... Traction will be your issue...