Winter driving 2.7 and 4.2 comparison
01-01-2009, 08:28 AM
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Winter driving 2.7 and 4.2 comparison
Happy New Year everyone!!
Over the past few weeks we have had cold (-0 temps) snowy (seems like everyday a couple of inches) weather. Having driven the 02 2.7 allroad for 6 winters and now the 4.2 there seems to be some differences on the way each handles the conditions. Setup differences: the 2.7 had Nokian WRs and Mobil1 0/40 oil, the 4.2 Dunlop 3Ds and 5/30 petroleum oil.
Cold start: both are great starters and warm up quickly, though the water temp takes longer on the 4.2. The 2.7 always seem to labor until it warmed, ran OK but just didn't seem to have power. The 4.2...jump in and go.
Heat in cold weather: both warm the car well but it's hard to beat a V8 at normal temperature and it holds the heat longer when shutoff.
Snowy roads: here is where it's been interesting, the 4.2 has the edge. Acceleration on snowy slippery roads is great. The ESP seems to be more balanced and not as aggressive. I have hit the throttle hard from stop and the car accelerates quickly, in a straight line. The 2.7 always was a bit squirrely and the ESP shut things down more. I suspect it's due to the turbo and once it spools up the torque is much more than the 4.2. The 4.2 delivers full torque early but is less. In both cases the engine software has been enhanced. The other difference is the tires but both cases they are premium winter tires with good traction. Overall both are excellent winter vehicles but IMO I believe the 4.2 has an edge, at least in the setups I have.
Over the past few weeks we have had cold (-0 temps) snowy (seems like everyday a couple of inches) weather. Having driven the 02 2.7 allroad for 6 winters and now the 4.2 there seems to be some differences on the way each handles the conditions. Setup differences: the 2.7 had Nokian WRs and Mobil1 0/40 oil, the 4.2 Dunlop 3Ds and 5/30 petroleum oil.
Cold start: both are great starters and warm up quickly, though the water temp takes longer on the 4.2. The 2.7 always seem to labor until it warmed, ran OK but just didn't seem to have power. The 4.2...jump in and go.
Heat in cold weather: both warm the car well but it's hard to beat a V8 at normal temperature and it holds the heat longer when shutoff.
Snowy roads: here is where it's been interesting, the 4.2 has the edge. Acceleration on snowy slippery roads is great. The ESP seems to be more balanced and not as aggressive. I have hit the throttle hard from stop and the car accelerates quickly, in a straight line. The 2.7 always was a bit squirrely and the ESP shut things down more. I suspect it's due to the turbo and once it spools up the torque is much more than the 4.2. The 4.2 delivers full torque early but is less. In both cases the engine software has been enhanced. The other difference is the tires but both cases they are premium winter tires with good traction. Overall both are excellent winter vehicles but IMO I believe the 4.2 has an edge, at least in the setups I have.
01-01-2009, 09:01 AM
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Re:That is what previous owner ran so at 40k miles didn't want to switch
I would prefer Mobil1 but there has been a few cases that leaks have developed when switching after several miles. It still has developed an oil leak in the cold which is another similarity to the 2.7. Going in Monday.
01-01-2009, 12:12 PM
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my own €0.02
I drove an '02 2.7t tip for a couple winters, and now an '05 4.2 this winter. Same tires and wheels on each (rial flairs, dunlop graspic)
The 2.7 was always a little sluggish until the turbos warmed up.
The ESP on the 2.7 did seem more aggressive. I can feel the 4.2 slip a bit before the ESP light comes on whereas with the 2.7 I'd usually see the light before I felt anything.
I don't think it's so much an engine difference.
The 2.7 was always a little sluggish until the turbos warmed up.
The ESP on the 2.7 did seem more aggressive. I can feel the 4.2 slip a bit before the ESP light comes on whereas with the 2.7 I'd usually see the light before I felt anything.
I don't think it's so much an engine difference.
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01-01-2009, 05:02 PM
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Re: I really believe on a normally aspirated engine changing every 5k with a good oil is fine
The turbo is a different story that's why I never understood why Audi had a 10k oil change with petroleum oil in 2002.