# 40 Below Cold Start

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/40-below-cold-start/82848>\
**Category:** General Discussion\
**Created:** [December 28, 2013, 1:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/40-below-cold-start/82848 "2013-12-28T01:25:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![dagosa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dagosa/32/9837_2.png) [@dagosa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dagosa)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 2:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/40-below-cold-start/82848/21 "2014-01-08T02:25:10Z")

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Thanks for the explanation. That’s probably why most people I know who live in an apartment, have some kind of an issue with their cars, parking, security or convenience. That’s a tough situation.

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**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 7:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/40-below-cold-start/82848/22 "2014-01-08T07:10:24Z")

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Just to continue, a word of caution, just starting the car is not the same as driving it around a little. The one time my Diesel Olds did not start outside was at a scout camp when it got down past 20 below. I went out about midnight and ran it but didn’t drive it. In the morning it wouldn’t start without numerous attempts at jumping it. Had I just driven it around instead I’m sure it would have reluctantly started. I don’t know why but I never just ran it to warm it up after that but would drive it until it warmed up.

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**Author:** ![Triedaq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Triedaq](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Triedaq)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2014, 7:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/40-below-cold-start/82848/23 "2014-01-08T07:26:50Z")

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Fuel injection and electronic ignition have made engines start better in cold weather. However, I was able to start my 1954 Buick at -15 degrees and started my 1971 ford Maverick at -21 degrees (actual temperature, not wind chill) and my 1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass at -16. and these cars had carburetors and breaker point ignition systems.  
The temperature here in east central Indiana hit -17 (wind chill -30) last night. Fortunately, our vehicles are in a warm garage. The real effect of this subzero temperature on our household is that our dog certainly whizzes out and back in quickly after a whiz.

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