- Jul 22, 2015
- 2,724
(on edit: I just got reminded online about expansion plugs...maybe I don't need to worry about anything at all - ?
(although having to replace them would be an absolute b!tch, it would beat a cracked block)
I'll start by saying that 2 of the 3 trucks I'm concerned about have been tested and *should* be good to about -30F. Those two have to sit outside, however. Also, I *know* what's in the Envoy, having done it myself about 18mos ago - it has a perfect 50/50 which should protect to -34F, per the charts.
The 3rd one is in my garage, sitting for a couple of weeks now. I believe I tested the coolant, but need to go check it once I finish this note, just to be sure. If it's marginal, I'll probably need to drain the coolant to be safe, or use a starting regiment (see below).
Why am I concerned? Because come both Wed-Thu, Chicago is going to have -15F for the high temp, and -22F for the lows.
-15F will be the 'lowest high' ever recorded, and Chicago hasn't seen -22F since 1985 (all-time is -27F)
I'm planning on leaving the vehicles sit once it starts dropping (although maybe I should start them - I dunno. I'd set an alarm for every 2hrs around the clock, if I needed to).
I doubt the Envoy will start once it gets below 0F- (-5F). It's always slower to turn over, compared to the old Sierra (which usually whips over, but today I could tell it was even a little slower than usual (ambient was about 9F about noon; when I loaded Torque immediately after starting, the coolant (& trans fluid) both reported at 5F - I thought that was weird (and got more worried).
As for the one in the garage, its battery is marginal to begin with, but I could hook the charger up if I need to start it up). IIRC, my garage will usually be about 20F warmer than ambient.
To make it worse, I live about 40mi north of O'Hare, which is the 'official' reporting station for Chicago, and it's always a few degrees cooler up here (just a few miles from the WI border). Suffice to say...I'm officially worried. The Voy is going to turn into a DD come June (but I don't want any of the blocks to crack). The two LQ4s are iron block; the Voy's is aluminum.
(postscript: the Weather app on my phone now shows my zip code heading for -24 / -26F over those two days).
Some reassurances from our Canadian or northern members would be nice. 'Hold my beer' references especially welcome I do realize that you guys prolly run 60-70% concentrations, though.
50/50 has always been fine for Chicago for almost all of my adult / driving life. Until now.
(although having to replace them would be an absolute b!tch, it would beat a cracked block)
I'll start by saying that 2 of the 3 trucks I'm concerned about have been tested and *should* be good to about -30F. Those two have to sit outside, however. Also, I *know* what's in the Envoy, having done it myself about 18mos ago - it has a perfect 50/50 which should protect to -34F, per the charts.
The 3rd one is in my garage, sitting for a couple of weeks now. I believe I tested the coolant, but need to go check it once I finish this note, just to be sure. If it's marginal, I'll probably need to drain the coolant to be safe, or use a starting regiment (see below).
Why am I concerned? Because come both Wed-Thu, Chicago is going to have -15F for the high temp, and -22F for the lows.
-15F will be the 'lowest high' ever recorded, and Chicago hasn't seen -22F since 1985 (all-time is -27F)
I'm planning on leaving the vehicles sit once it starts dropping (although maybe I should start them - I dunno. I'd set an alarm for every 2hrs around the clock, if I needed to).
I doubt the Envoy will start once it gets below 0F- (-5F). It's always slower to turn over, compared to the old Sierra (which usually whips over, but today I could tell it was even a little slower than usual (ambient was about 9F about noon; when I loaded Torque immediately after starting, the coolant (& trans fluid) both reported at 5F - I thought that was weird (and got more worried).
As for the one in the garage, its battery is marginal to begin with, but I could hook the charger up if I need to start it up). IIRC, my garage will usually be about 20F warmer than ambient.
To make it worse, I live about 40mi north of O'Hare, which is the 'official' reporting station for Chicago, and it's always a few degrees cooler up here (just a few miles from the WI border). Suffice to say...I'm officially worried. The Voy is going to turn into a DD come June (but I don't want any of the blocks to crack). The two LQ4s are iron block; the Voy's is aluminum.
(postscript: the Weather app on my phone now shows my zip code heading for -24 / -26F over those two days).
Some reassurances from our Canadian or northern members would be nice. 'Hold my beer' references especially welcome I do realize that you guys prolly run 60-70% concentrations, though.
50/50 has always been fine for Chicago for almost all of my adult / driving life. Until now.
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