Driving in minus 40 temp
01-27-2019, 10:18 AM
#1
AudiWorld Junior Member
Thread Starter
Driving in minus 40 temp
Just got my first Audi last month, 2014 A5. I love it so far and am being extra nice to it, but now I'm supposed to go to the Canadian border in a few days where temps are expected to get down to forty below (not wind chill). Even where I am at 16 below I let her idle at least 20 minutes before I go anywhere. My concern is parts that will be adversely effected. Are these cars designed to operate in these temps? I suspect it gets damn cold in Germany, so if anyone can assuage me, I'd appreciate it.
01-28-2019, 06:19 AM
#2
AudiWorld Senior Member
20 min idle? My car is lucky if I give it 30 seconds. 
Manufacturers do their cold weather testing in northern Sweden, not Germany. And car-sized freezers. Seriously, these days you don't have to idle 20 min, just give it 30 seconds and go really slow until the oil warms up a bit. Where in Canada is it -40 at the border? You're talking F or C?
Manufacturers do their cold weather testing in northern Sweden, not Germany. And car-sized freezers. Seriously, these days you don't have to idle 20 min, just give it 30 seconds and go really slow until the oil warms up a bit. Where in Canada is it -40 at the border? You're talking F or C?
01-28-2019, 06:31 AM
#3
AudiWorld Senior Member
My RS5 is in a detached unheated garage. Normally about 8-10 degrees warmer inside than ambient. After it starts it fast idles for about 30 seconds and when idle drops to normal, I drive away, Moderately until it warms up. Forecast is - 39 F here in ND by tomorrow night. Been driving Audi's for over 30 years. No issues in cold weather.
01-28-2019, 06:42 AM
#4
AudiWorld Junior Member
20 min idle? My car is lucky if I give it 30 seconds.
Manufacturers do their cold weather testing in northern Sweden, not Germany. And car-sized freezers. Seriously, these days you don't have to idle 20 min, just give it 30 seconds and go really slow until the oil warms up a bit. Where in Canada is it -40 at the border? You're talking F or C?
Manufacturers do their cold weather testing in northern Sweden, not Germany. And car-sized freezers. Seriously, these days you don't have to idle 20 min, just give it 30 seconds and go really slow until the oil warms up a bit. Where in Canada is it -40 at the border? You're talking F or C?
01-28-2019, 09:28 AM
#6
AudiWorld Member
Yup, let it idle for 1 minute or less then drive off gently and sensibly until everything is warmed up. If very cold is the norm, I'd think about installing a block heater.
01-29-2019, 04:26 AM
#7
The only problem I've had in extremely cold weather (anything under 0F) is with diesel Audi's. The glow plugs take too long to heat and won't catch, and they will kill the car battery. Engine block heaters work wonders. Otherwise, on all the gasoline Audi's I've had I have never had a problem in cold weather. On the flip side, I have not had a problem in ridiculously hot summers either (120F).Up here in Chicago, we are expected to receive -27F as the low tomorrow, with wind chill factors of -55F. I'm so glad I work remotely.
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